Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival

(Hardback)

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The gripping story of Taiwan's past and precarious present from one of Taiwan's top foreign correspondents. With all eyes on Ukraine and the Middle East, Taiwan is emerging as the next geopolitical tinderbox. Despite sitting at the heart of the tense relationship between China and the US, Taiwan's history and its people have long been overlooked and misunderstood. In Ghost Nation, Taiwan-based journalist Chris Horton tells their stories and explores why this diplomatically isolated country has become such an important player on the world stage. As China's military preparations continue apace, the stakes have never been higher. Perched precariously on the fault-lines of global power, the fate of this vibrant democracy and tech colossus will shape Asia's future - either containing or facilitating China's expansionist goals. Drawing from over a decade of living and reporting in Taiwan, and informed by interviews with everyday citizens, presidents and other key figures, Horton provides a panoramic view of this fascinating country. Ghost Nation will leave readers with a profound appreciation for Taiwan's struggle for self-determination - and its pivotal role in our shared future.

Reviews

If you think it's an exaggeration to say that Taiwan is the fulcrum on which the world's balance of power rests, then Chris Horton's book should change your mind. Apart from crushing a vibrant democracy, a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would be a victory for authoritarianism everywhere. Few books qualify as essential reading but Ghost Nation is one of them -- Clive Hamilton, author of The Hidden Hand
Indispensable and timely this is an urgent moment for everyone to better understand Taiwan, one of the most interesting democracies in the world written engagingly by the international journalist who knows the country best -- Melissa Chan, Emmy-nominated International Affairs Correspondent and author of You Must Take Part in Revolution
For the past decade, Horton has been one of the most reliable and incisive foreign journalists based in Taipei. He has used that experience, knowledge and access to produce an unmissable account of Taiwan's political trajectory . . . Accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched -- Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former Director of the China Policy Institute
Hortons retelling of Taiwans past and present through the eyes of everyday people who experienced Taiwans highs and lows firsthand will leave readers with a deep sense of empathy and hope for the future of the millions of people who call Taiwan home. It is a must-read for anyone invested in peace and understanding on either side of the Taiwan Strait -- Lev Nachman, Assistant Professor at National Taiwan University and author of Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements and Party Formation
Accessible and borne from on-the-ground reporting. Delves far beyond the headlines, deep into the history and the forgotten personalities that helped make modern Taiwan -- Dr Samir Puri, author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing

Author Bio

Chris Horton is a reporter who has covered covered cross-strait politics, domestic politics, the economy, culture and breaking news in Taiwan for The New York Times, Bloomberg News, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Financial Times and Quartz. He has lived in Taiwan since 2015 and in China and Hong Kong for the decade preceding that. He is the last foreign journalist to interview former President Lee Teng-hui, arguably the midwife of Taiwanese democracy and one of the most underappreciated post-war Asian leaders. He is fluent in Mandarin. Ghost Nation is his first book.