If China Attacks Taiwan

This book analyses the issues that Chinese policy makers would have to consider if they were to decide to attack Taiwan. It explains and analyses the driving forces behind, the methods and the consequences of China using force, a prospect that has become greater following the return of President Chen Shui-bian to power in Taiwan in 2004. As the reality is that there can be no real winner in such an eventuality and the consequences would be dire for East Asia as a whole, whether China will use force will depend ultimately on how its policy making apparatus assess the prospect of US intervention, whether its armed forces can subdue Taiwan and counter US military involvement, as well as on its assessment of the likely consequences. Written by leading academics and government policy-makers including former military officers and diplomats, this volume will appeal not only to scholars and students working on China and Chinese foreign policy, but also to policy makers and journalists interested in China's rise and its defense policy, Taiwan's security, regional stability as well as US policy toward China and the East Asia region. This book will be essential reading for students of Chinese politics, strategic studies, Asian security and IR in general.