Read 1
On China
I describe On China as a patient map of Chinese diplomacy that deepens the discussion of negotiation and balance of power begun in World Order.
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China Ascendant
Approach China through deliberately contrasting accounts of history, diplomacy, strategic ambition, and corporate interdependence. Read disagreements as part of the reading guide.
Chinese history and worldview lead into diplomacy, strategic competition, and the practical dependencies embedded in technology supply chains.
Reading order
Use this suggested order as a starting point, or choose the book that interests you most.
Read 2
China's Civilian Army
I recommend Martin’s readable account as context for the increasingly public, nationalistic conduct of Chinese diplomacy.
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Read 3
The Hundred-Year Marathon
I recommend Pillsbury as a controversial, more skeptical counterpoint within the China sequence, useful for understanding debates in US policy circles.
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Read 4
Apple in China
I value the book’s account of intertwined commercial success and geopolitical vulnerability, especially its implications for trade, labor, and national security.
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Read 5
Sparks
I include this to bring independent voices inside China into a section that also examines the country through strategy and state institutions.
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Read 6
The Party
I include this for the institutional foundation it provides. Read it as context for China's system rather than a continuously updated account of current events.
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Read 7
Spies and Lies
I include this to examine influence as a strategic activity and to encourage careful scrutiny of sources, access, and assumptions.
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Read 8
The Long Game
I include this for comparison with The Hundred-Year Marathon. Different arguments about long-term strategy are most useful when their evidence is examined side by side.
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Optional companions that extend or challenge the core sequence.
Breakneck
I include this book for its perspective on china, engineering, and industrial competition. Read after Apple in China to widen the discussion from corporate dependence to engineering and industrial capability.
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