Tangled Titans: The United States and China

by David Shambaugh (Editor)

Tangled Titans offers a current and comprehensive assessment of the most important relationship in international affairs—that between the United States and China. How the relationship evolves will have a defining impact on the future of world politics, the Asian region, and the citizens of many nations. In this definitive book, leading experts provide an in-depth exploration of the historical, domestic, bilateral, regional, global, and future contexts of this complex relationship. The contributors argue that the relationship is a unique combination of deep interdependence, limited cooperation, and increasing competition. Never in modern history have two great powers been so deeply intertwined—yet so suspicious and potentially antagonistic toward each other. Exploring this cooperative and competitive dynamic, the contributors offer a wealth of detail on contemporary Sino-American relations unavailable elsewhere. Students will find Tangled Titans essential reading to understand the current dynamics and future direction of relations between the world’s two most important powers.

Contributions by: Rosemary Foot, Charles W. Freeman III, Bonnie S. Glaser, Avery Goldstein, Yufan Hao, Harry Harding, G. John Ikenberry, Terry Lautz, Dawn Murphy, Shelley Rigger, David Shambaugh, Robert Sutter, Ashley J. Tellis, Nancy Bernkopf Tucker, Christopher P. Twomey, and Wu Xinbo.

Genres: China, Politics, Political Science

454 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

David Leigh Shambaugh is an American political scientist, Sinologist and policy advisor. He currently serves as the Gaston Sigur Professor of Asian Studies, Political Science, and International Affairs at George Washington University, where he is also the director of the China Policy Program at GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution (2024—). He was previously a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Shambaugh served in the Department of State, and on the White House National Security Council staff during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. As an author, Shambaugh has authored 12 and edited 21 books, and over 200 scholarly articles and newspaper op-eds. (Source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Meihan Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Prof Shambaugh is a mysterious man.

He once said that he has dedicated his whole life to the goal of transforming China in a peaceful evolution sense. He also said that China must undertake radical political reforms to successfully transition into a modern economy with a stable society and benevolent political system. He has tons of complaints about Chinese slogans and party propaganda packed its official documents and newspapers that he has to read.

But in today's class, when asked by an American student "why should we adhere to all these formalities about Taiwan with China? " He said something I would otherwise find it hard to believe if I was not there listening with my ears.

He said, solemnly, that it has nothing to do with titles, formalities and diplomacy. "One China" is a solid commitment, like an oath taken with your hand on a Bible that the United States of America made to the People's Republic of China when the two normalized their relations in 1979. The United States of America acknowledges People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government of geographical China and its sovereignty over geographical China, including Taiwan, Penghu and Jinmen. Taiwan is not a state and illegitimate as a sovereign state, and this is its status acknowledged by not only the United States but one hundred and sixty or so other countries in the world.

I was so impressed. It is not something you would ever expect from an Washington China Hand like him, something like belittling a democracy and a quasi-American ally for his country's largest potential authoritarian competitor and rival.

What fascinates him is by no means democracy then. Power is the thing, perhaps.

What a star-crossed, fatal, twisted but fascinating relationship between the two countries of our two.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for anyone who wants a balanced understanding of Sino American relations.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edited volume centers on analyzing the complexities of Sino-American relations that continually shift between cooperation and competition. This uneasy blend of, what the book terms as “coopetition”, presents a number of challenges to policy makers in both countries seeking to maintain peaceful relations. The conclusions offered by the book vary due to the numerous contributing authors, but the volume does an excellent job of contextualizing its discussion on theoretical, domestic, international, bilateral, and regional components. Notably, the analysis strives to understand the deep interdependence yet suspicious and antagonistic relationship between the two “titians” within a practical framework that clearly identifies sources of potential hostility.