War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait - (Contemporary Asia in the World) by Scott L Kastner (Paperback)

About the Book

Scott L. Kastner offers a comprehensive account of PRC-Taiwan relations that sheds new light on the prospects for military conflict. Drawing on both international relations theory and close empirical analysis of regional trends, this book provides vital perspective on how a war in the Taiwan Strait could occur--and how one could be avoided.

Book Synopsis

As tensions continue to rise between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, numerous analysts and officials have warned of a growing risk of military conflict, which could potentially draw in the United States. How worried should we be about a war in the Taiwan Strait?

Scott L. Kastner offers a comprehensive analytical account of PRC-Taiwan relations that sheds new light on the prospects for cross-strait military conflict. He examines several key regional trends that have complex implications for stability, including deepening economic integration, the shifting balance of military power, uncertainty about the future of U.S. commitment, and domestic political changes in both the PRC and Taiwan. Kastner argues that the risks of conflict are real but should not be exaggerated. Several distinct pathways could lead to the breakout of hostilities, and the mechanisms that might allay one type of conflict do not necessarily apply to others--yet war is anything but inevitable. Although changes to the balance of power introduce risks, powerful mitigating factors remain in place and there are plausible steps to reduce the likelihood of military conflict.

Drawing on both international relations theory and close empirical analysis of regional trends, this book provides vital perspective on how a war in the Taiwan Strait could occur--and how one could be avoided.

Review Quotes

A valuable contribution to the study of relations between China and Taiwan.-- "Pacific Affairs"

A masterful analysis.-- "Book Addiction"

The cogency of Kastner's arguments lies partly in the neutrality of his approach. No ethical stance is presented here - Kastner is not concerned with assigning culpability for the cross-strait standoff.-- "Taipei Times"

Kastner offers us a way to answer one of the most pressing international security questions of our time: How likely is war in the Taiwan Strait--and, in turn, the risk of conflict between the United States and China? Drawing together insights from international relations theory and deep knowledge of the case, Kastner gives us a valuable map to navigate these dangerous waters.--Jacques deLisle, Stephen A. Cozen Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania

Scott L. Kastner's War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait is a standout, combining deep area-studies knowledge with crystal-clear application of international relations theory to advance our understanding of one of this century's most dangerous potential flashpoints for great-power conflict.--Thomas J. Christensen, James T. Shotwell Professor of International Relations and director of the China and the World Program, Columbia University, and former deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs

Taiwan is Asia's most critical flashpoint and the one issue over which a major war between China and the United States could erupt. With analytical clarity and precision, Kastner deftly assesses the pathways to armed conflict across the strait, showing how a war might break out and how such an outcome might be avoided. Anyone interested in the future of peace and stability in Asia should read this book--an important, timely, and significant contribution.--M. Taylor Fravel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About the Author

Scott L. Kastner is a professor in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Political Conflict and Economic Interdependence Across the Taiwan Strait and Beyond (2009) and coauthor of China's Strategic Multilateralism: Investing in Global Governance (2019).