The Struggle for Taiwan

Deeply researched and fascinating… China-US relations now stand "at the edge of chaos", according to Khan. Beijing’s aggression in the strait has hit new heights, and Biden appears to have recommitted the US to defend Taiwan militarily. A cataclysm beckons

Charlie English, The Guardian

Excellent and timely… Khan’s book suggests that military conflict is not inevitable and that calm heads, open communication and the spirit of compromise could yet save us from a third world war

Neal E. Robbins, Literary Review

A rigorously researched and gripping account... a beautifully written book

Kathrin Hille, Financial Times

[The Struggle for Taiwan] is a brilliant example of the use of international history to illuminate a contemporary challenge that we are likely to be hearing a lot more about in 2025. It tells the story of how the island has been the source of great-power contestation going back to the 17th century, before its postwar history, democratisation and rapid technological leaps made it a geopolitical tinderbox

John Bew, New Statesman

A rich and thoughtful book

Ian Buruma, New Yorker

Thought-provoking…Perhaps the most powerful lesson of Khan’s book concerns agency. Repeatedly, Khan reminds readers that the path to the present was not inevitable but was rather the product of choices made by leaders in Beijing, Taipei, and Washington. That history should serve as both a cautionary tale and motivation for leaders in all three capitals

James Steinberg, Foreign Affairs