Taiwan has a special place in my heart. I spent just over 3 years living and teaching English in Kaohsiung. During that time I was lucky enough to travel all over Taiwan and explore places such as Taroko Gorge, Green Island, and Kinmen.

My background in international relations combined with this love for Taiwan has kept me long interested in the political situation of the Beautiful Island.

While the author and I disagree on what should happen with Taiwan (it is already and should be recognized as the wonderful country that it is!), this is still an important read with well thought out and supported arguments.

I recommend this read to anyone wanting to better understand the situation.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Professor Kerry Brown’s “Why Taiwan Matters” is an excellent treatise on Taiwan’s history, people, development, and culture, as well as its relationships with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States. Having served for seven years as First Secretary of the British Embassy in Beijing (1998-2005), having authored 20 books on China, and now teaching Chinese Studies and directing the Lau China Institute at King's College, London, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the task of explaining Taiwan's place in world affairs.

According to Professor Brown, the PRC insists now (and has always insisted) that Taiwan belongs to it. Conversely, the Taiwanese--who in the years since 1949 have created an economic powerhouse and a multi-party democracy--refuse to lose the rights and freedoms they've obtained to communist rule. So, Taiwan and the PRC are at an impasse that, under current conditions, will be very hard to resolve. The U.S. which is economically tied to both, and which provides Taiwan with various protections (even though it does not formally recognize Taiwan), will almost certainly be involved in any resolution, or conflict, that arises between the island of 23 million people and it's very large neighbor across the 110-mile strait.

Professor Brown argues that the current ambiguity of Taiwan’s position as neither an independent nation (which many Taiwanese would like to change) nor a part of the PRC (which Beijing very much wants to remedy) is, at this time, not a bad thing, especially since it allows all three principals to continue to realize economic benefits through trade. Describing how various actors and factors are pressuring for clarification of Taiwan's status, he warns that if the U.S., China, and Taiwan fail to act with patience, prudence, and forbearance, a cataclysmic war ruinous to the entire planet could well result.

“Why Taiwan Matters” struck me as a must-read for anyone interested in the region and its future, the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, U.S. politics and foreign and military policy, and/or the possibility and consequences of a major war with China. I finished the book believing I had learned much and that my time had been well spent.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Professor Kerry Brown, and publisher St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

This book is a micro-history of the island of Taiwan (Formosa) that covers its entire span of existence. From the European colonization by those nations wishing to open trade connections with China to replace the Silk Road, the Nationalist government that fled to this after its defeat by Mao's Red Army, to the political infighting that continues to this very day, to the chip industry that is involved in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Well written but too much detail for my tastes.

This was very helpful in helping you understand Why Taiwan matters and explains in a way that even someone who is not into politics would understand.

Why Taiwan Matters sheds light on the factors leading to our current precarious historical situation. With unique access to Taiwan’s political figures and a comprehensive grasp of the island's history and culture, Professor Kerry Brown offers a fresh perspective on Taiwan, its twenty-three million citizens, and their experiences amid this unsettling geopolitical tension. This book is crucial for grasping Taiwan's distinctive narrative, presented in an engaging, knowledgeable, and timely manner.

This is a wonderfully done dive into the complicated affairs surrounding such a small landmass.

The author has incredible insights into the mainland and Tawian's people and culture. The introduction felt drawn out, though it led into the first chapter "Taiwan Life' well, Once chapter two began I felt like the book hit its stride and the writing became more fluid and enjoyable to read. Understanding how the Taiwanese identify themself against how the rest of the world understands them grounded the book for the upcoming chapters where knowledge of that was needed as subtext. The general themes of the remaining chapters, democracy, economics, Chinese/Taiwan Relations, US/Taiwan Relations, and speculation of war compiled nicely on each other to bring to the natural conclusion of thinking toward the future, and as the title suggests Why Taiwan Matters. How Taiwan ultimately is protected, and if its people will ever feel a common identity remains to be seen. The book left me feeling uneasy. According to the author, the most pragmatic solution is to defend the stalemate as it exists. I am led to agree and anticipate that no one edges Taiwan to be in more of the spotlight than it already is.