This book explores China’s strategic culture in the context of relations across the Taiwan Strait.

The United States has long played a stabilizing role, deterring China from attacking Taiwan. However, as China’s economy has grown, so has its military might, and it is now in a position to challenge the US for the leading role in the security of the Western Pacific. This book closely examines how China’s interests in Taiwan have emerged from its identity as a modern, socialist nation-state, placing it on collision course with Taiwan’s consolidated liberal democracy and the US vision of itself as a guarantor of global order. On the basis of an examination of operational doctrines, force structure and training, it offers an interpretation of the three powers’ intentions and analyses possible scenarios for conflict. This provides the context for analysing China’s strategic behaviour, notably the development over the past thirty years of military capabilities which would be sufficient for an invasion.

This book will be of much interest to students of strategic culture, Chinese security, foreign policy and International Relations.