SOCIAL SCIENCES

China Threat? The Challenges, Myths, and Realities of China's Rise

by Lionel Vairon
CN Times. 2013. 232p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781627740005. $24.95. INT AFFAIRS
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Former French diplomat Vairon (lecturer, Institut des Hautes études de Defense Nationale) offers a different look at China's rise to global power and what it means to the West. He aims to debunk the myth that China's ascension is a "threat" to the world by demonstrating how the rise is rather a peaceful one. Vairon notes that clashes in cultural values and economic politics are largely responsible for the West's perceptions and its anxiety over China's place in the world. Drawing on statistics, media sources, political papers, and academic works, as well as his own knowledge of the country and its people, Vairon gives an objective analysis of the historical and ongoing challenges in China.
VERDICT Readers with an interest in international relations, history, political science, economics, or Asian studies may find this work an insightful take on the issues from China's perspective, and a corrective to their preconceptions. They should also consider Timothy Beardson's Stumbling Giant: The Threats to China's Future, which covers similar ground but explores China's domestic issues more closely. For those interested in seeing how China's economic developments may benefit the international landscape, this book is concise and worth reading.
Reviewed by Raymond Pun, New York P.L. , Sep 15, 2013
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