The Taiwan Tinderbox
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| Author | J. Michael Cole |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Cross-strait relations, Political status of Taiwan |
| Publisher | Polity Press |
Publication date | 18 November 2025 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 250 |
| ISBN | 9781509568055 Search this book on  . |
The Taiwan Tinderbox: The Island-Nation at the Center of the New Cold War is a 2025 non-fiction book by Canadian analyst and journalist J. Michael Cole. The book examines Taiwan's security environment, domestic politics, relations with the People's Republic of China, and the nation's role in contemporary geopolitical competition between China and the United States.
The book discusses military, political, economic and informational dimensions of cross-strait relations by arguing that Taiwan has become a central point of tension in the Indo-Pacific region.[1]
Summary
The book traces the historical and political developments that have shaped Taiwan's position in East Asia. Cole argues that the nation's strategic importance not only derives from its geographic location but also its role in regional security arrangements.
The author also places considerable emphasis on Taiwan's domestic politics, including debates over national identity, democratization, civil society, and relations between Taiwan's major political parties. The book argues that developments within Taiwanese society have played a significant role in shaping the country's response to pressure from Beijing, wherein a central theme is the interaction between Taiwan's internal political development and external security challenges. Cole argues that democratization and the growth of civil society have contributed to the formation of a distinct political identity in Taiwan.[2]
By examining the growth of China's military capabilities and the changing balance of power across the Taiwan Strait, the book also examines deterrence and military strategy in the Taiwan Strait and discusses Taiwan's transition toward asymmetric defence concepts by considering how changes in military technology and doctrine have affected strategic planning on both sides of the strait.[3]
Other than military topics, another recurring theme throughout the work is the role of non-military forms of competition between Taiwan and China. This includes cyber operations, information campaigns, economic pressure and diplomatic influence campaigns. Cole argues that Taiwan's future will be influenced by both military deterrence and the resilience of its democratic institutions.[4]
Reception
Reviews of The Taiwan Tinderbox have generally described it as an accessible introduction to contemporary security issues involving Taiwan.
Writing in the Taipei Times, David Frazier described the book as a useful overview of the major strategic challenges facing Taiwan, while noting its focus on military and security analysis.[5]
Other reviewers highlighted the book's discussion of not only domestic political developments in Taiwan, but also other key themes that are often glossed over by other authors, such as Taiwanese civil society, national identity, cross-strait policy as well as the changing balance of military power across the Taiwan Strait.[6] Some reviewers observed that the book largely synthesizes existing discussions found in policy and foreign-affairs publications, whilst others noted its value as an introductory work for readers unfamiliar with Taiwan-related issues.[7]
See also
- The Struggle for Taiwan
- Forbidden Nation
- Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat
- Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival
- Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
- The Taiwan Story
- Cross-Strait relations
- Political status of Taiwan
- Taiwan Relations Act
- Sunflower Student Movement
References
- ↑ Rachman, Gideon (16 October 2025). "Transcript: Taiwan under threat — how strong are its defences?". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ Ivison, John (October 1, 2025). "John Ivison: Taiwan is our defence, too, against China's authoritarian ascendancy". National Post. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ Crane, Brent (January 18, 2026). "J. Michael Cole on the Best and Worse Cases for Taiwan's Future". The Wire China. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ Nathan, Andrew J. (April 9, 2026). "Zero-Sum". chinabooksreview.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ Frazier, David (2 October 2025). "Book review: Living in the shadow of China's new military dominance". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ Saunders, Harry (December 17, 2025). "A Taiwan Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand (Book Review)". dominotheory.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ "Review: Taiwan Tinderbox and New Cold War Conflict Futures". aseanwonk.com. September 5, 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
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