Ghost Nation by Chris Horton

The possibility of war over contested territories has existed for centuries, yet as weapons have become more advanced, the potential for a catastrophic war over disputed land is more likely. The US and Russia nearly fought a nuclear engagement over Berlin during the Cold War, and Kashmir has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of the apocalypse. Since 1949, the People’s Republic of China has staked a claim to its neighbor, Taiwan. Taiwan has resisted China’s attempts at unification, but as China has grown economically and militarily, its encroachment has become more aggressive. The US and other global powers have allowed their fear of China to forestall embracing Taiwan. Taiwan has survived subjugative reign over its history, whether it be Dutch, Spanish, or Japanese. The country weathered nearly 40 years of martial law by the Kuomintang and emerged as a formidable economic powerhouse with a budding democracy.

Ghost Nation provides a wealth of information about a country that, while noted for its strategic value on the “Grand Chessboard” of global politics, is often ignored for its resiliency and its strides in government. Author Chris Horton has authored an extensive look into Taiwan and some of its distinguished leaders.