The Unyielding Island: Taiwan Caught Between the US and China for Eighty Years

The Struggle for Taiwan: A History of America, China, and the Island Caught Between

A major work by American international relations experts on the Taiwan issue!
Taiwan is an unyielding island, an aircraft carrier that remains unsinkable amidst raging waves.
This book covers the period from the Cairo Conference in 1943 to the presidential election in Taiwan in 2024.
Let's examine the current situation in the Taiwan Strait from the perspective of Taiwan's modern history.

Taiwan lacks formal international recognition and has been struggling to survive. How has it managed to get here?
What kind of situation are we facing now?

★The current situation is the accumulation of past history! Revisiting the history of the past 80 years since the Cairo Conference.

When will China invade Taiwan by force? 2025? 2027? Within six years?
No one knows for sure, but... Taiwan is not seriously prepared for a war with China, and that must change!

★War is not inevitable, but in order to avoid it, decision makers must learn from past lessons.

This book provides a comprehensive review of Taiwan's history over the past eighty years.
The author pertinently reminds us that Taiwan’s level of preparedness and awareness of war are seriously insufficient!
The insight and writing skills are extraordinary, the content is wise and practical!

Taiwan has a very special history and status. Time and again, how has Taiwan remained unshaken amidst the turbulent waves of the Taiwan Strait crisis, withdrawal from the United Nations, and the severance of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the United States?

During the First Taiwan Strait Crisis, Yijiang fell, Dachen retreated, and Eisenhower even considered using nuclear weapons.
The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis: The 823 Artillery Battle. The United States was originally unwilling to defend Kinmen and Matsu, but was dragged into it by Chiang Kai-shek?
The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: Lee Teng-hui's Two-Nation Theory, China's Missile Tests, and a US Aircraft Carrier Approaching Taiwan...
The Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis: Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022 triggered a Chinese military exercise simulating a blockade of Taiwan...

This book examines the Taiwan issue and the trilateral relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, providing a comprehensive historical overview from the beginning: from the Cairo Conference during World War II, through US support for Chiang Kai-shek, its abandonment of Chiang, and then its renewed support, to the severance of diplomatic ties in the 1970s, and the recent rise of "China hawks" in the US. The author argues that this represents a permanent shift in US political attitudes toward Taiwan, significantly irritating China. The book discusses actions that should be taken to ensure peace in Taiwan and what the US can do.

Covid-19, Chinese spy balloons flying across the US, the Huawei case... these events have continuously heightened suspicion and hostility between China and the US. This book also analyzes Wolf Warrior diplomacy and the ruling personality and policy stance of Xi Jinping, now at the peak of his powers. It also suggests the possibility that if China's domestic situation destabilizes, Xi Jinping might resort to war against Taiwan to deflect domestic conflict. The Russo-Ukrainian War demonstrates that sovereignty is not inviolate. Will China follow Russia's example? Can the Taiwanese resist with the same courage as the Ukrainians? The author's advice to Taiwan: Taiwan's current preparedness and awareness are still insufficient! This world is cruel, and being prepared is always better than nothing.

Facing challenges and responding to new situations, Taiwanese people need to understand the past even more. After reading this book, you will know:
※What is the historical background of the Taiwan Relations Act?
※What are Reagan’s six guarantees?
※The two Chiangs originally wanted to develop nuclear weapons, so why were they stopped by the United States?
※Reagan once threatened to resume recognition of the Republic of China, which shocked Deng Xiaoping?
Chiang Ching-kuo and Deng Xiaoping were classmates who studied in the Soviet Union. What similarities do they share? What different choices did they make at crucial historical moments?
※What pro-Taiwan content does the Taiwan Policy Act contain?

Features of this book

1. Focusing on Taiwan: In recent years, numerous books have explored the Sino-US rivalry and geopolitics, but these typically focus on China and the United States, with Taiwan playing a supporting role. This book, however, focuses on Taiwan, with Taiwan as the central figure. This reflects the increasing importance that US policymakers attach to Taiwan's strategic position amid the Second Cold War.

2. Viewing Taiwan Issues from the Perspective of American Policymakers: This article provides Taiwanese readers with an American policymaker's perspective: How do American think tanks and policymakers view Taiwan issues? How has American policy evolved to this day?

3. A Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Review of U.S.-China Relations in Taiwan This book provides an up-to-date overview of the triangular relationship and history between the United States, China, and Taiwan, covering the period up to the 2024 presidential election of Lai Ching-te. It also introduces readers to the equally important Taiwan Policy Act, in addition to the Taiwan Relations Act.

4. Highly acclaimed by major international media outlets and book critics. This book has received special coverage from numerous major international media outlets and has received rave reviews from professional book review publications and critics:
★ The New Yorker magazine: Rich in content and well-thought-out.
★ Guardian: In-depth research and fascinating.
★ Financial Times: Rigorous research and gripping story.
New Statesman magazine: A fascinating concise history of Taiwan's relations with the two major powers of China and the United States.
Washington Free Beacon: Excellent writing and powerful arguments.
Library Journal (starred review): A comprehensive history of the Sino-Taiwan conflict and the US role in it—highly recommended.
★KIRKUS: Author Wasif Khan retells Taiwan's story in a way that highlights Taiwan's importance and understands the context of the conflict.
Paul Kennedy, historian and author of The Rise and Fall of Hegemony: This book is an exceptional masterpiece, both in terms of its depth of research, its command of the professional field, and its clear and fluent writing style.
James Stavridis, U.S. Navy Admiral and author of "The Struggle for Sea Power: A History and Geopolitics of the Seven Seas," writes: At a time of intense tension between the United States and its greatest competitor, China, Wasif Khan has written a brilliant book. His captivating account of Taiwan's chequered history accurately captures the fundamental dilemma facing Taiwan's future. His writing is as captivating as that of a professional author and a delight to read. If any book clearly captures the tensions between the United States, China, and Taiwan, this is it!

Recommender

Wang Hao, PhD in International Relations from the University of Oxford, author, historian and political scientist
Wu Jialong, senior political and economic commentator
Lin Xiaoting, Director of East Asian Collections, Hoover Archives, Stanford University
Zhang Guocheng, Professor, General Education Center, Taipei Medical University

Fan Yun, Legislator and Co-Chair of IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China)

2024-10-02

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