Assessing the Threat: The Chinese Military and Taiwan's Security (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) [Paperback]

Michael D. Swaine (Author), Andrew N. D. Yang (Author), and Evan S. Medeiros (Author)

Book Description

Series: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Since at least the early 1950s, the entire Asia-Pacific region has struggled with the complicated and complex relationship between China and Taiwan--today the Taiwan question is considered a potential flashpoint for a much larger international conflict. Bringing together experts from the United States and Taiwan, Assessing the Threat provides a comprehensive look at the dangers of military escalation in the Taiwan Strait, the latest advances in capabilities of the People s Liberation Army, and China s security relationship with the United States and the Asia-Pacific. There is increasing concern that Beijing is steadily shifting the balance of power across the Taiwan Strait in its favor. Recent advances in Chinese air and naval power, along with changes in PLA doctrine, have the potential to weaken deterrence and destabilize the cross-strait military balance. At this critical juncture, there is not question that this issue requires sustained, detailed analysis and that many measures can and should be taken to reduce the threat of conflict between China, Taiwan, and the United States. Assessing the Threat offers such analysis as well as concrete suggestions and crisis management practices for government and military leaders in Washington, D.C., Beijing, and Taipei.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thorough, stimulating and often provocative, the chapters in this volume provide a unique assessment of the complexities surrounding Taiwan's security. They examine the logic driving China's security policy and emerging military capabilities, strategy and doctrine, Taiwan's evolving defense capabilities and posture, the implications for U.S. military deployments in the west Pacific, issues of escalation control should war break out, and the potential future patterns of East Asia's security environment. These chapters coalesce to form the most important book yet published on this critical security problem." --Paul Godwin, Professor of International Affairs, National War College (ret.)

"No recent development has aroused more concern among U.S. policymakers and military officials than China's military buildup, which is viewed as a threat to Taiwan and which contains the potential for war between China and the U.S. But what is the nature of the threat? This multifaceted and in-depth examination by top experts provides the best available answer to one of the most critical issues today." --Ellis Joffe, Professor Emeritus of Chinese Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Review

"No recent development has aroused more concern among U.S. policymakers and military officials than China's military buildup, which is viewed as a threat to Taiwan and which contains the potential for war between China and the U.S. But what is the nature of the threat? This multifaceted and in-depth examination by top experts provides the best available answer to one of the most critical issues today." —Ellis Joffe, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 413 pages
• Publisher: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870032380
• ISBN-13: 978-0870032387
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > History > Asia > Taiwan