Why Taiwan Matters

Outline

Why Taiwan Matters (2023) explains why a small island has become central to global politics, trade, and technology. Kerry Brown explores Taiwan’s history, its democratic development, its leading role in producing advanced semiconductors, and its complex relationship with China and the United States. The book helps readers understand why tensions over Taiwan could shape the future of the world economy and international security.

• A small island has become central to global politics, trade and technology, which is why events there reach far beyond its shores.
• Taiwan's history and identity help explain how it sees itself and why its status is so closely contested.
• Taiwan's democratic development is part of what sets it apart and shapes the way it deals with the wider world.
• Taiwan plays a leading role in producing advanced semiconductors, so its stability matters to the world economy.
• Tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan could shape future international security and the global economy.

Kerry Brown is a British sinologist, former diplomat, and professor of Chinese studies at King’s College London, where he directs the Lau China Institute. He previously worked at the British Embassy in Beijing. He has written many books on China’s politics and society, including CEO, China and Xi: A Study in Power.