China Contested: Western Powers in East Asia

by Matthew J. Flynn

Riding the wave of one of the most accelerated economic expansions in history, China is on the brink of emerging as a global juggernaut. One of the chief reasons for its success has been its ability to unite itself, expel the physical presence of Western powers from its soil, and reoccupy Hong Kong and Macao. "China Western Powers in East Asia" examines the country's artificial divisions over time, tracing interference by the West back to the early 16th century. This intrusion peaked during the establishment of Western spheres of influence in the late 19th century, yet it continues to resonate today with the standoff over Taiwan. Author Matthew J. Flynn points out that while China has endured many divisions throughout its past, the borders imposed by the West were strictly political and had no geographic or historical basis. "China Contested" will help students grasp the concept that China's determination to be recognized as a great power coincided with its resolve to eliminate the arbitrary borders created by the West.

132 pages, Library Binding

First published July 30, 2006