A Nation in the Shadows

The story of an island that is changing the world

Taiwan, whose future could impact the global economy, technological development, and the shape of international relations, is one of the most misunderstood places today. At the same time, the island stands at the very centre of the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States of America.

Chris Horton, a journalist who has worked in Taiwan for more than ten years, offers a compelling look at four centuries of its turbulent history and struggle for its own identity, describing its transformation into one of the world's most advanced democracies.

A Nation in the Shadows is not only a story of resilience and the desire for self-determination, but also offers a key to understanding one of the most dangerous flashpoints in global politics today. Horton convincingly shows why the future of the entire world may depend on the island's fate.

About the author:

Chris Horton lives in Taipei, Taiwan, where he has worked as a journalist since 2015. He primarily covers domestic politics, economics, social issues, and relations with neighbouring countries. Before arriving in Taiwan, Horton spent two years in Hong Kong, where he reported mainly on the so-called Umbrella Revolution and civil society. He also lived in China for thirteen years, focusing on the country's economic rise and its consequences. He has also reported from Macau, Cambodia, and Laos. Media outlets that have published his work include the New York Times, Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg News, the Atlantic, the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Wire China, and ChinaFile.