Challenging China (9780804854320)

An insightful and thought-provoking guide to understanding China's growing global influence—and how democracies can respond.

China's rise has transformed global politics, economics and security, reshaping international relationships in ways that will define the decades ahead. In Challenging China, longtime China policy expert Sam Kaplan examines how China's increasing authoritarianism, expanding global ambitions and evolving relationship with the United States present one of the world's most significant geopolitical challenges.

Drawing on more than thirty years of experience in China policy and international trade, Kaplan explores the political, economic and cultural forces driving China's rise while offering practical, realistic strategies for engaging with the country without sacrificing democratic values or national interests. Written in an accessible, engaging style with references ranging from Dolly Parton and Bruce Springsteen to LeBron James, this book makes complex international issues understandable for general readers.

Topics include:

• Xi Jinping's consolidation of power and the changing direction of China's government
• China's expanding military, economic and diplomatic influence around the world
• The future of Taiwan, Hong Kong and regional security in the Indo-Pacific
• Human rights, censorship and increasing government control
• The complex economic relationship between China, the United States and its allies
• Technology, trade, supply chains and global competition
• Climate change and other areas where international cooperation remains essential
• Practical strategies for responding to China's rise while avoiding unnecessary conflict

Rather than arguing for confrontation or disengagement, Kaplan proposes a balanced approach that protects democratic interests while encouraging constructive engagement wherever possible. Challenging China is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand one of the defining geopolitical issues of the twenty-first century.


About the Author:
Sam Kaplan has worked with and in China for over thirty years in a variety of roles. As president of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, he organized numerous trade and business missions to China and hosted countless delegations, business people, and government officials from China. He was a key member of the host committees for the visits of both President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping to Seattle. He publishes a weekly e-newsletter, "International Need to Know," and has been published in a variety of publications, including the World Bank's Urban Age magazine. Kaplan lives in the Seattle area.