鈥業F DETERRENCE and diplomacy fail, the military takes over.鈥� This warning underscores the tone and urgency of 鈥業s Taiwan a Dangerous Flashpoint?鈥�, a timely and compact analysis of one of the most precarious geopolitical issues of our time. Written by Dr Mohd Aminul Karim, a noted security expert and former professor at the University of Malaya, the book addresses the Taiwan Strait crisis with clarity and urgency. Published in February 2025 by NOVA Science Publishers, this 160-page volume examines the rising risks of confrontation in the Indo-Pacific, especially among key players such as China, Taiwan, the United States, Japan and Australia.
Taiwan鈥檚 strategic location in the western Pacific and its centrality to both regional and global supply chains have drawn heightened attention from regional and extra-regional powers alike. Since 1971, the Taiwan Strait has steadily emerged as a critical pressure point, drawing in major powers and polarising global alignments. Against this backdrop, Dr Karim offers a well-rounded treatment of the Taiwan question, laying out both its historical underpinnings and contemporary strategic dynamics.
The book opens with an exploration of China鈥檚 long-standing 鈥榦ne China鈥� policy and the deepening tensions in the Taiwan Strait. As the People鈥檚 Republic of China continues to claim Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, Taiwan鈥檚 growing assertion of political autonomy has become increasingly fraught. Dr Karim argues that the possibility of brinkmanship remains alarmingly real, especially as major stakeholders 鈥� China, the United States, Japan and Taiwan 鈥� accelerate military preparedness in anticipation of conflict. Taiwan鈥檚 global role as the producer of the world鈥檚 most advanced semiconductors, heavily backed by US investment, only adds to the stakes. China鈥檚 view of Taiwan as a 鈥榬unaway province鈥� that must eventually be reunified 鈥� even through military force 鈥� raises the risk of war with profound global implications.
Structured into 12 concise chapters, the book covers not only the Taiwan Strait but also other regional flashpoints such as the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. Dr Karim pays particular attention to how these areas intersect with larger power contests, especially between the United States and China. He outlines the triangular dynamics of China鈥揢S鈥揟aiwan relations, embedding his analysis within historical milestones, strategic doctrines, and geopolitical shifts. Importantly, the author incorporates insights from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to forecast how such great-power confrontations may unfold in Asia.
Perhaps one of the most compelling sections is the book鈥檚 theoretical chapter, where Dr Karim uses foundational concepts in international relations, such as deterrence, balance of power, the security dilemma, alliances and the action-reaction model, to interpret the escalating tensions. For instance, the deterrence barrier between the US and China, if breached, could trigger direct military confrontation. Taiwan鈥檚 military build-up, enabled by US support, is interpreted as a form of external balancing. The 2023 visit of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan serves as a vivid example: China鈥檚 response 鈥� missile tests and military drills in the strait 鈥� demonstrates the action-reaction dynamic at work.
The book also offers an insightful examination of Washington鈥檚 strategic ambiguity over the Taiwan issue. While the United States has historically supported the 鈥榦ne China鈥� policy鈥攆irst enshrined in the 1972 Shanghai Communiqu茅 and furthered by president Clinton鈥檚 鈥渢hree no鈥檚鈥� 鈥� it has also passed legislation such as the Taiwan Relations Act (1979) and the Taiwan Travel Act (2018). Under the Trump administration, arms sales to Taiwan were significantly increased. Today, democracy is wielded as a strategic tool to justify continued support for Taiwan, with all of Taiwan鈥檚 political parties viewing the US as central to the island鈥檚 long-term security. Dr Karim draws a parallel between US support for Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war and its current posture on Taiwan, cautioning that another theatre of conflict within the same hemisphere could bring about catastrophic consequences.
The book concludes with a strong case for diplomacy. Confidence-building measures, open communication channels, and strategic engagement among stakeholders are proposed as necessary means to avoid the path of escalation. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the continuing war in Ukraine already threaten international peace and economic stability. Adding a Taiwan-centred war to this volatile mix, Dr Karim suggests, could prove disastrous not only for the Indo-Pacific region but for the entire world. He notes that while China鈥檚 goal of reunification remains unchanged, the US鈥檚 shift away from strategic ambiguity further unsettles the region鈥檚 already fragile balance. Taiwan, in this equation, remains the critical flashpoint.
So, is Taiwan truly a dangerous flashpoint? Dr Karim鈥檚 answer is an unequivocal yes. The strength of this book lies in its ability to dissect a complex and volatile issue with scholarly precision, practical clarity, and urgency. It contributes significantly to the existing body of literature on East Asian security and great-power competition, especially as it relates to the Indo-Pacific.
The book is highly recommended for academics, students, diplomats, policy-makers, strategic analysts, think tanks and anyone interested in international security, peace and conflict studies, and contemporary geopolitics. With its accessible language and compact structure, 鈥業s Taiwan a Dangerous Flashpoint?鈥� serves as both an academic resource and a timely warning.
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Shaila Solaiman is an assistant professor and Farzana Fatima is a lecturer of international relations at the Bangladesh University of Professionals.