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The Boiling Moat: Urgent Steps to Defend Taiwan EDITED BY MATT POTTINGER. Hoover Institution Press, 2024, 288 pp. Pottinger, a former senior aide in the Trump administration, convenes an impressive [...]

Qaum, Mulk, Sultanat: Citizenship and National Belonging in Pakistan BY ALI USMAN QASMI. Stanford University Press, 2023, 444 pp. Subcontinent Adrift: Strategic Futures of South Asia BY FEROZ HASSAN KHAN. [...]

Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country BY PATRICIA EVANGELISTA. Random House, 2023, 448 pp. Evangelista has written an intense, emotional lamentation for the thousands of [...]

An Ecological History of Modern China BY STEVAN HARRELL. University of Washington Press, 2023, 582 pp. This intellectually adventurous, wide-ranging, and boldly integrative study examines the ecological impact of China's [...]

The article provides summaries of several recent books on various topics related to Asia and the Pacific. "The Boiling Moat" discusses strategies to defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion or blockade, emphasizing the importance of Taiwanese public support and international cooperation. "Power Shifts in International Organizations" examines China's influence within the United Nations, highlighting its efforts to advance certain norms and protect its national sovereignty. "Vietnam: Navigating a Rapidly Changing Economy, Society, and Political Order" explores Vietnam's unique approach to economic reform and its evolving relationship with the United States. "Base Towns" analyzes the factors that contribute to protests against U.S. military bases in South Korea and Japan. Finally, "Divided Isles" examines the complex factors that led to the Solomon Islands' switch in recognition from Taiwan to China, including domestic politics and regional dynamics. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Institutional Roots of India's Security Policy" in Foreign Affairs, edited by Milan Vaishnav, highlights capacity gaps in India's security institutions, including understaffing, weak personnel management, and inefficient procurement processes. The navy lacks dominance in the Indian Ocean with only two aircraft carriers, while the air force relies on a mix of foreign aircraft. Mutual distrust hampers cooperation between intelligence agencies, and human rights abuses are reported in various security units. Despite aspirations to be a global power, India struggles with security challenges from China, Pakistan, and internal conflicts. [Extracted from the article]

"The Chinese Computer: A Global History of the Information Age" by Thomas S. Mullaney explores the evolution of writing in Chinese characters from brushes to QWERTY keyboards. The book delves into the development of autocomplete software for Chinese text and the challenges faced in sending Chinese characters by telegraph. Mullaney's narrative highlights the shift towards faster text composition in Chinese characters compared to alphabetic languages, challenging the belief that Chinese writing could not adapt to the modern age. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Rights Refused: Grassroots Activism and State Violence in Myanmar" by Elliott Prasse-Freeman explores how citizens in Myanmar expressed dissent through acts of "refusal" during a period of democratic rule from 2011 to 2021. These acts included symbolic gestures like banging pots and pans, posting photos of police torture victims, and challenging social norms to resist state violence. Following a military coup in 2021, this refusal transformed into open resistance, leading to the growth of armed opposition groups challenging the military's authority. Prasse-Freeman argues that refusal is a culturally specific form of resistance that can indicate a population's readiness for revolt. [Extracted from the article]

The article "North Korea's Mundane Revolution: Socialist Living and the Rise of Kim Il Sung, 1953--1965" by Andre Schmid discusses how North Korean leader Kim Il Sung's regime implemented urban programs in the 1950s to rebuild the country after colonial subjugation and the Korean War. The regime focused on promoting marriage and childbearing, providing housing for nuclear families, and encouraging women to work in various sectors. Despite economic growth and population increase, the regime also nationalized private enterprises, collectivized agriculture, and established a discriminatory class-status system. The article highlights the complex social and economic policies of North Korea during this period. [Extracted from the article]

Wang Feng's book "China's Age of Abundance: Origins, Ascendance, and Aftermath" offers a unique perspective on China's economic growth by focusing on consumption data rather than GDP. The book highlights the significant lifestyle changes in China over the past four decades, including increased meat consumption, luxury fashion market dominance, and advancements in various sectors like housing, transportation, and technology. Wang also discusses the role of rural labor in fueling China's economic growth and warns of potential challenges ahead, such as a shrinking labor force and political control impacting the country's future trajectory. [Extracted from the article]