China's rise to world power is seemingly a modern phenomenon, but it has a long history. This book follows China's geopolitical transformation on the world stage, from struggling to defend herself against the British in the Opium Wars, to rivaling the United States for supremacy. What started as a response to Europe's colonial influence has gradually become China's quest to take a leading role on the word stage. But how did this happen? And what kind of actor is China as a global great power?
The answers to these questions lie in how China has been shaped by its changing relationships with major world powers over the last two centuries. Arguing that a series of military defeats in the Opium Wars, Boxer Crisis and Japanese occupation led to a deep-rooted national sense of geopolitical vulnerability, van der Putten shows how this imbalance of power has resulted in Chinese distrust and uncertainty, even after it ceased to be prey to imperialist powers.
Tracing China's relations with other major powers over the last 185 years, China Resurrected shows how they have influenced the way in which China itself has become a leading power, and what this means for its relations with the West.
Available 12 June 2025. Click here to pre-order.
At the start of the twentieth century, Europe was the home region of most of the world's leading powers. It also was the main stage for geopolitical rivalry between the same countries. Today Europe finds itself in a position where it is a secondary theatre for geopolitical actors from, and events in, other parts of the world. In that regard,...
Until the American elections, it seemed that Russia and China posed the most immediate challenges to the economic security of the European Union. But the next US presidential administration holds the most power to disrupt the EU's new economic security strategy.
China, emerging as a technological powerhouse, has significantly reshaped the Sino-U.S. technological competition landscape. The once prevalent notion in the West that the People's Republic of China (PRC) was incapable of groundbreaking innovation due to its "illiberal" system has been proven wrong. A decade ago, scholars were doubtful of China's...
The exact course the US will take with regard to China depends on the election results. China itself sees differences but mostly similarities between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Beijing is preparing for further intensification of the geopolitical competition with the US in any case. This will also have consequences for Europe and the...
A case study on Chinese involvement. European seaports and related logistics are a key part of international trade and logistics. Foreign involvement by third countries has gained greater significance in this sector, especially where China is concerned. However, at the moment, there is a lack of EU cooperation concerning foreign involvement. This...
The 1970s-90s were a period of re-engagement between the Netherlands and Taiwan after some 300 years of very limited interaction. The emergence of Taiwan, and East Asia as a whole, as a major center of economic activity was an important factor in this process. This was also a period in which a new awareness emerged of the history of...
Last updated: 23 April 2025
The Taiwan Radar provides an overview of geopolitical developments relating to Taiwan-China-US relations. Click here to visit the TaiwanRadar website and subscribe to the free weekly newsletter.
