Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.13 (993 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B00IZMWQ2A |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 159 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-07-20 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
In Asia's Cauldron, Robert D. Over the last decade, the center of world power has been quietly shifting from Europe to Asia. The underreported military buildup in the area where the Western Pacific meets the Indian Ocean means that it will likely be a hinge point for global war and peace for the foreseeable future. With oil reserves of several billion barrels, an estimated 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and several centuries' worth of competing territorial claims, the South China Sea in particular is a simmering pot of potential conflict. Part travelogue, part geopolitical primer, Asia's Cauldron takes us on a journey through the region's boom cities and ramshackle slums: From Vietnam, where the superfueled capitalism of the erstwhile colonial capital, Saigon, inspires the geostrategic pretensions of the official seat of government in Hanoi, to Malaysia, where a unique mix of authoritarian Islam and Western-style consumerism creates quite possibly the ultimate postmodern society; and from Singapore, whose "benevolent autocracy" helped foster an economic miracle, to the Philippines, where a different brand of authoritarianism under Ferdinand Marcos led not to economic growth but to decades of corruption and crime. To understand the future of conflict in East Asia, Kaplan argues, one must understand the goals and motivations of its leaders and its people. Kaplan offers up a vivid snapshot of the nations surrounding the South China Sea, the conflicts
America may need to rethink its Asian strategy Robert Kaplan describes the South China Sea as being “as central to Asia as the Mediterranean is to Europe.” He discusses the impact of a powerful China on the countries bordering the Sea. China believes that almost the entire Sea belongs to them, and they have plenty of old maps to support their claim. China is on the rise and it is starting to throw its weight around. China has indicated that it would like the US military to pull-out of Asia and it seems to have aspirations to become a regional hegemon. China's behavior has triggered a regional arms race and Kaplan is predicting that South East . An introduction to the next crisis in Asia Arnold The South China Sea is easily becoming the most important foreign policy issue in the Asia-Pacific region. With impeccable timing, Robert Kaplan’s new book, Asia’s Cauldron, attempts to illuminate the main actors in the dispute.The book seems written for readers with some knowledge of Asia and foreign policy issues. This is both a strength and weakness of the book. The book is very accessible and Kaplan writes clearly enough for readers with only minimal knowledge to step right in. In some ways, the book could serve as an introduction to the countries surrounding the South China Sea. As somebody w. Philox1"Good and Bad" according to Philox12. I wanted to like this, but was increasingly disappointed as I read. Kaplan is best when he is detailing and analyzing the relationships among the nations of the South China Sea, their strategies vis-a-vis China and the U.S., on the ground facts, etc., Even if you don't agree with him, he raises important issues thoughtfully. These areas probably make the book worth reading once. He is much less impressive when analyzing (and praising) the single party rule/dictatorships of Malaysia, Signapore and Taiwan's recent past and this takes up more of the book as it proceeds. In these areas, he is simplistic and his a. said Good and Bad. I wanted to like this, but was increasingly disappointed as I read. Kaplan is best when he is detailing and analyzing the relationships among the nations of the South China Sea, their strategies vis-a-vis China and the U.S., on the ground facts, etc., Even if you don't agree with him, he raises important issues thoughtfully. These areas probably make the book worth reading once. He is much less impressive when analyzing (and praising) the single party rule/dictatorships of Malaysia, Signapore and Taiwan's recent past and this takes up more of the book as it proceeds. In these areas, he is simplistic and his a