Taiwan is one of the great paradoxes of theinternational order. A place with its own flag, currency, government andmilitary, but which most of the world does not recognise as a sovereigncountry. An island that China regards as a 'rebellious province', but which hasmanaged to survive defiantly for decades as an independent nation. However, withits neighbour China now a major power on the world stage and with its ally UnitedStates looking increasingly inward, Taiwan's position has never been moreprecarious.

Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu Hu revealhow the island's shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquestand by a cast of dynamic characters, by Cold War intrigue and the rise of itsneighbour as a global power, explaining how this tiny island, caught between the agendas of two superpowers, is attempting to find its place in a rapidly changing world order. 

The Trouble with Taiwan relates the story of a fascinating nationand culture, and how its disputed status speaks to a wider, global story about Chinese control and waning US influence.