The Struggle for Taiwan

A rigorously researched and gripping account… a beautifully written book – Kathrin Hille * Financial Times *Deeply researched and fascinating… China-US relations now stand “at the edge of chaos”, according to Khan. Beijing’s aggression in the strait has hit new heights, and Biden appears to have recommitted the US to defend Taiwan militarily. A cataclysm beckons – Charlie English * The Guardian *Excellent and timely… Khan’s book suggests that military conflict is not inevitable and that calm heads, open communication and the spirit of compromise could yet save us from a third world war – Neal E. Robbins * Literary Review *[The Struggle for Taiwan] is a brilliant example of the use of international history to illuminate a contemporary challenge that we are likely to be hearing a lot more about in 2025. It tells the story of how the island has been the source of great-power contestation going back to the 17th century, before its postwar history, democratisation and rapid technological leaps made it a geopolitical tinderbox – John Bew * New Statesman *A rich and thoughtful book – Ian Buruma * New Yorker *Thought-provoking…Perhaps the most powerful lesson of Khan’s book concerns agency. Repeatedly, Khan reminds readers that the path to the present was not inevitable but was rather the product of choices made by leaders in Beijing, Taipei, and Washington. That history should serve as both a cautionary tale and motivation for leaders in all three capitals – James Steinberg * Foreign Affairs *

Sulmaan Wasif Khan is Associate Professor of International History and Chinese Foreign Relations and Denison Chair of History and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. He is the author of Muslim, Trader, Nomad, Spy: China’s Cold War and the People of the Tibetan Borderlands.