When the bloody Chinese Civil War concluded in 1949, two Chinas were born. Mao’s Communists won and took China’s mainland; Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to Taiwan island. Since then, China and Taiwan have drifted into being separate political and cultural entities.
Taiwan is now a flourishing democracy and an economic success just one of its companies produces over 90 per cent of the semiconductors that power the world’s economy. It is a free and vibrant society. For the United States and the West, the island is a bastion of freedom against China’s assertive presence in the region. And yet China, increasingly bellicose under Xi Jinping, insists Taiwan is part of its territory and must be returned to it. Should China blockade the island and mount an invasion, it would set off a chain reaction that would pitch it against the US – escalating a regional war into a global one. Taiwan is thus a geopolitical powder keg. Why Taiwan Matters helps us understand how and why we’ve arrived at this dangerous moment in history. With unparalleled access to Taiwan’s political leaders and a deep understanding of the island’s history and culture, Professor Kerry Brown provides a new reading of Taiwan, its twenty-three million people, and how they navigate being caught in this frightening geopolitical standoff.
Why Taiwan Matters is the essential book for understanding Taiwan’s unique story told in an accessible, expert and urgent way."
Kerry Brown’s Why Taiwan Matters is a fascinating nonfiction exploration of Taiwan’s history and its current role in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. Going into this book, I knew a little bit about Taiwan going into this and had a general understanding of its significance, but this book went into so much more detail and left me with a much clearer and deeper understanding of all things relating to Taiwan.
This book begins with Taiwan's origins and moves chronologically through its development, emphasizing how external influences have shaped its development. The primary focus, however, is on Taiwan's tenuous relationship with China, as well as it's relationship with the United States, particularly because of its critical role in semiconductor production–an area in which Taiwan holds global dominance. Additionally, Why Taiwan Matters explore Taiwan's embrace of democratic ideas, which further increases tensions with China, which views Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China, while nations like the United States recognize it differently.
As previously mentioned, prior to reading this book I was aware of some of the general issues between China and Taiwan, but Brown's detailed explanation showed why those tensions exist, the historical and present day factors that led to them, and potential consequences for the future. He clearly illustrates how volatile the situation can be and the potential threats that it may pose, as well a variety of perspectives on it.
The book is largely split between a history of Taiwan and Taiwan's current political issues and statuses, which I think worked well for the shorter format. It's a concise and efficient way of understanding Taiwan's history and some key insights without every feeling overwhelming. For readers like myself with a limited knowledge and understanding of Taiwan, this is a great introduction to learning more; however, readers who are already well-versed in Taiwan's history and politics may not find anything new information-wise, though perhaps Brown's own insights could still provide value.
One thing that stood out most to me what Brown's emphasis on Taiwan's unique identity and role on the global stage. Brown highlights Taiwan's resilience and importance as a singular place, distinct from influences from both China and the West, and through this is able to create what I thought was a lot of respect for the people, history, and culture of Taiwan. Brown does an exceptional job explaining complex topics in readily accessible ways throughout the entirety of this book.. He also narrated the audiobook version of this book and does an excellent job with that as well.
Why Taiwan Matters is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Taiwan's history, it's geopolitical significance, or anyone generally interested in current events. I really feel like I learned a lot and I would happily read more on these topics from this author!
*I received a copy of Why Taiwan Matters in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*
