American Journal of Chinese Studies
"Readers seeking a comprehensive but economical treatment of Taiwan need look no further...."


The China Business Review
"A first-class description of the territory's rise to a global powerhouse from relative impoverishment in the 1950s."


R. H. Detrick, University of North Texas
"[This] primer on Taiwan will be useful to students of Asian politics regardless of their level of expertise.... Recommended."


Memphis Commercial Appeal
"Thorough and accessible....this book is highly recommended."


Hungdah Chiu, former president American Association for Chinese Studies
"Offers keen insights into the rapid economic, social, and political processes that are moving the country toward development and democracy."


Book Description
In the fourth edition of Taiwan: Nation-State or Province? Professor Copper examines Taiwan's geography and history, its society and culture, its economy, its political system, and its foreign and security policies in the context of Taiwan's uncertain political status: whether a sovereign nation or a province of the People's Republic of China. Copper argues that Taiwan's very rapid and successful democratization (while leaders in Beijing oppose democratic change) suggests Taiwan should be independent and separate from China; increasingly important economic links between Taiwan and China says the opposite. Professor Copper argues that exacerbating this problem Washington and Beijing espouse opposing policies regarding resolution of the "Taiwan issue" and that has made the Taiwan Strait the world's number one "flashpoint" (place where major powers collide and where war using weapons of mass destruction may be used). This matter has been recently been given further salience by the shift of political power to Chen Shui-bian who was elected president in 2000 and the victory of his opposition party, which has long advocated an independent Taiwan, in the 2001 legislative election and by America's growing perception of a "China danger" and concern about Beijing's military expansion that is in large part aimed at Taiwan. Taiwan: Nation-State or Province? is unlike other books of this genre pursues the theme of Taiwan's unique status and seeks to gauge its future as one of the world's vortex political entities. Praise for the previous editions


About the Author
John F. Copper is professor of international studies at Rhodes College.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this thoroughly revised and updated edition, John Copper provides a comprehensive introduction to Taiwan. The book highlights Taiwan's unique attributes: its uneasy status as a nation-state, its successful trade-oriented economy - despite a lack of natural resources - its rapid transition to democracy in the wake of economic development, and its ambiguous relationship with the United States. Considering Taiwan's international role in the post-Cold War era, Copper weighs the future of this small but vital island nation.

SYNOPSIS

Examining Taiwan's geography and history, society and culture, economy, political system, and foreign and security policies in the context of Taiwan's uncertain political status, this work looks at Taiwan's rapid and successful democratization, which suggests that Taiwan should be independent and separate from China, and at the important economic links between Taiwan and China, which indicate the opposite. Contemporary b&w photos are included. Copper teaches international studies at Rhodes College. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

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