Living with China: U.S.-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (American Assembly) [Paperback]

Ezra F. Vogel (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 1997 | Series: American Assembly

A fascinating and long-overdue examination of the political, economic, and human rights issues impacting U.S. policy toward China.

China will achieve a position of paramount importance in the world economy and the global political order in years to come; yet, the United States holds to no consistent policy with regard to this rising superpower. In the ideological void left by the end of the cold war, media images and expediency seem more likely to guide U.S. actions toward China than any clearly stated agenda.

At this critical point in the history of U.S.-China relations, Living with China offers an essential historical assessment composed by leading scholars and political analysts. From Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet and the legacy of Tiananmen Square to trade, markets, and commercial diplomacy, these compelling essays address the complex web of issues that will shape future relations with China. This book offers important facts and insights for anyone interested in this most important and thorny of foreign policy issues.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In The Coming Conflict with China (LJ 2/15/97), Richard Bernstein and Ross Munro paint China's emergence as a world power as a direct threat to U.S. interests and global leadership. The present work, a collection of high-quality, policy-oriented essays by nine leading specialists, is an antidote to such fear-based studies. Without underestimating the difficulties involved in reaching a modus vivendi with a country whose political system is so unlike our own, the authors present balanced discussions of areas of common interest and potential cooperation as well as of discord. Harry Harding offers a constructive approach to dealing with the issue of human rights, and Mike Lampton, Michael McElroy, Chris Nielsen, and Kenneth Lieberthal also offer essays that are particularly worth reading. Permeating this work is the realization that a nonconfrontational U.S.-China relationship is the key to global stability in the next century. For all libraries.?Steven I. Levine, Boulder Run Research, Hillsborough, N.C.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ezra F. Vogel is director of Harvard's Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, acting director of the U.S.-Japan program, and Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University. He served as the Clinton administration's national intelligence officer for East Asia from August 1993 to August 1995.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; First edition (September 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039331734X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393317343
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Intelligent Analysis of US-China Relations, March 30, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living with China: U.S.-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (American Assembly) (Paperback)

It's possible that China's emergence as a world power in the 21st century -- if relations between the US and China are friendly -- will mark the beginning of a new era in which the world will enjoy unprecedented stability and peace. On the other hand, unfriendly US-China relations have the potential to bring a nuclear holocaust upon the world. Understanding and dealing with the development this situation is crucial to the future of the planet. "Living With China" stands out from the dozens of recent China books as the most intelligent, carefully reasoned, thoroughly researched analysis of the topic. Written by a top China scholars (rather than opinionated journalists with limited understanding of China and, apparently, little respect for the future of civilization), this collection of essays addresses every important aspect of US-China relations and demonstrates the importance and benefit of friendly ties between our two countries. Unavoidably, the prose is more sober and scholarly than the sensationalistic, alarmist writing found in other China books; but it pays off, because what you find in this book is real content: solid arguments, empirical evidence, balanced presentations of different viewpoints, and policy recommendations that are actually intended to benefit the future of the US, and the future of humanity.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent assessment of the Sino-American relationship, July 17, 2001

By 

Jason W. Atwell "Business instructor" (Marion, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living with China: U.S.-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (American Assembly) (Paperback)

The nine essays that are found in "Living With China" thoroughly assess the relationship existing between the United States and the People's Republic of China, offering avenues of discussion such as: environmental issues, human rights violations, the independence of Taiwan, the importance of allowing China to join the WTO, and the inevitability of China increasing its economic as well as military strength. The book is still very relevant despite its copyright date of 1997.

4.0 out of 5 stars Where is the voice of Taiwanese people?, December 24, 2004

By 

Purple Tang "Long Islander" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With China: U.S./China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (Hardcover)

After I finished the reading of this book I realized that the US-China-Taiwan relation is established fundamentally on the view of Michel Oksenberg. Of course Lieberthal has play an inportant role on the decision making of the State Department.

But all the discussion focused on what the PRC thinks and how big will be its economy. Shall these exports ask the following questions?

1. CCP is claiming they are the sole leadership of China. Is it legitimate?

2. CCP owns the PLA. PLA plays an important role in its regime's decision making. Do you know the agenda of PLA?

3. The total GDP of Taiwan ranks 20th in the world. It is just behind Sweden but it exceeds the countries Turkey, Norway, Denmark, Indonesia. Malaysia, Thailand, greece and Portugal. Taiwan is not a "small" country. Any country comparing with China is a small country. Where is the view of 23 million Taiwanese in these report?