Asia's Reckoning: China, Japan, and the Fate of U.S. Power in the Pacific Century Hardcover – 5 Sept. 2017

A great book. Even better than his history of the CCP.

To address the first question that inevitably arises from the title, Asia refers more specifically to China and Japan, with the inevitable participant of the USA, with other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and the Koreas in a supporting role. As such, the book is really a history of China, Japan and United States relations, and a fine history it is.Richard McGregor has clearly devoted considerable historical scholarship and behind the scenes investigation to deliver what clearly is a comprehensive account of something that is clearly misunderstood, Japan-China relations.What one will learn from this book is that Japan-China relations are not as simple as either side would have you believe. Japan-China relations in the Post-WWII era were not uniformly antagonistic, and the poison in the relationship did not really metastasize until the 1990s, with the Yasukuni issue only emerging in the mid 80s.In a nutshell, founding figures such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai were entirely Japan friendly, with Mao himself insisting on the unnecessary nature of apologies. The Deng Xiaoping era receives less attention, though it was just as friendly, however, the real poison in the relationship comes from the mouth foaming Japan baiter, Jiang Zemin.As such, the book does what any decent history book does, disspel myths and common misunderstanding, chief amongst them, "Japan has never apologized".Japan has apologized unequivocally on numerous occasions, the poison of the relationship stems from Chinese hair splitting, and Japanese revisionism.The controversy over Diaoyu/Senkaku issue surrounding their "nationalization" was actually a least worst solution to prevent their purchase by Shintaro Ishihara, the China-baiting ultra-nationalist Tokyo governor, a move made by the most pro-China Japanese government in the latter days of what had been the most pro-Japan Chinese government.While one cannot accurately say whether McGregor's book is an effective mirror for the future, it is difficult to be optimistic for future Japan-China relations due to the uncertain nature of the China-US relationship, and the brain washing of the younger Chinese generation from years of poisonous "Patriotic" Education spear headed by Jiang Zemin.For the curious reader, McGregor has provided a scholarly and penetrating insight into Japan-China relations that is very readable and well structured. It may seem like a slow starter, particularly for those like this reader who are more primarily concerned with recent events, however, perseverance is entirely rewarding.An essential work on international relations, covering a very important bilateral, and in some ways, trilateral relationship, with ramifications for the wider world.

Interesting and timely

I was a big fan of The Party so was keen to read Asia'a Reckoning. It is hard not to see the geopolitical center of gravity having shifted from the Atlantic to the Pacific and moving incrementally further east by the day. As such, a familiarity with the history of regional conflict and how the balance of power is evolving is increasingly important to understand what is going on in the world and some of the why's as well. Asia's Reckoning details the post WWII political dynamics of China, Japan and the US relative to one another. The author has accumulated a mass of transcripted conversations that give the in the room flavor of diplomatic and senior official relationships throughout the period. The author focuses on the wartime history, the diplomatic relations and the power dynamics over the last 70 years. The book definitely helps make sense of current political headlines as well as give clarity to the unfamiliar reader about why certain issues are so sensitive.The author sets the stage with the post WWI landscape with how the allies decided national boundaries in Asia as well as constructed Japan's pacifist constitution. The author just moves chronologically through the decades describing the relations between the US and China, China and Japan and Japan and the US in each period. The author describes how regional politics has forever had its sore points, largely as a consequence of wartime actions which, unlike in Europe, can seemingly never be forgiven. The author gives the history of the Diaoyu,(Senkaku) islands; where some irrelevant uninhabited islands were discovered to have potentially large reserves beneath them. The discovery escalated a sovereignty grab which remains in dispute between Japan and China (as well as Taiwan); the author describes the history of diplomatic negotiations over the islands to give a sense of how as domestic agenda's changed the diplomatic responses changed with them. The number of situations which make one cringe over what are seemingly minor issues are too many to count. The author spends a lot of time discussing the coming to terms with the 2nd world war. The author describes how early CCP officials were pragmatic while the temperature as defined by Jiang Zemin is dogmatic; in particular that there is no amount of apologizing that can right the past. The stark contrast of how Europeans can move past their historical animosities while Asian countries are perpetually weighed down by them is one of the themes the author is constantly trying to convey. It is quite depressing as the positions seem quite ridiculous to a western observer. The author describes the ebb and flow of sentiment both from the US as well as Japan about the strengthening of China. The author spends a lot of time discussing the internal political calculations of the various countries as well. In terms of people focused on, the author of course focuses on Kissinger and Nixon opening up China Relations. There is some time spent with Obama as well. He focuses on the Japan dynasty political families including Abe's and in particular on Koizumi who broke the status quo by visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. For China after describing foreign policy pragmatism outlined by Mao and Deng, he focuses on the tone set by Jiang Zemin which filtered through Hu and Xi.For anyone who has read the headlines on China Taiwan issues, or the South China Sea spats, or relations between China and Japan and wants a better background to the substance of the conflicts, this is well worth reading. After one reads it, one probably asks themselves, are you kidding me? The aggressive positions taken on its sovereignty from China have clearly evolved as a function of their relative power. That isn't surprising but the way in which it has changed the nature of all discussions can be seen through the diplomatic discussions on the same topic decade by decade. It is hard not to see potential conflict in the region in the next decade despite it being in no one's interest. But political sore points have become increasingly dug in despite many seeming to become increasingly irrational; like constantly blaming one another for a war where nobody who participated in it is alive... In any case, I definitely enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it.

Very interesting book, covers the high-level diplomatic history for the last few decades. It focuses especially on the hard-line nationalists in both China and Japan, and their influence on the relationship. I had not realized that the Japanese nationalists were so influential in Japan's relations with China. The author seems to be very well sourced, per his long career as a journalist in this region.Given the long time period that is covered in the book, it's very comprehensive. However, as a non-expert on the region, I would have liked to have had more analysis on the political environment in Japan, to understand how the nationalists could have so much influence in the LDP. Also, I would have liked more detail on the economic / trade side- I believe there is only one mention of the WTO, for example. Also not much on espionage or military matters in general.

This book is profoundly insightful and useful. This book, which contains exhaustively researched historical facts, reads like a superbly written novel, keeping me captivated and helping me better appreciate the complicated histories of modern China, Japan and the United States' role in shaping the post WW II relationship between China and Japan.For example, in the book, the author explained in vivid details the dynamism of some of the realities such as this: "Not only was Tokyo battling Beijing and segments of the U.S. government, but it was also facing an increasingly agitated South Korea."In the era of President Donald Trump, this books provides guidance on how to read the tea-leafs in the shadows of the contemporary Sino-Japan relationship and how to filter the noise from Washington D.C. involving that relationship, which is more important than ever in the calculus of maintaining peace, stability and continued prosperity in the greater Asia (and the rest of the world). While the book is densely packed with historical facts, the author gave life to those historical facts, making it "easier" to slough through the superbly written book.This book provides context for the current events that are unfolding in China, Japan and the United States of America's involvement in those two neighboring countries. Mr. McGregor exhibited his keen and profound understanding of those three world actors.

For those with patience for history McGregor’s work is the clearest treatment you will find of the interlocking play of America, Japan and China in the last seventy years. His knowledge of each is deep, balanced, and non-judgmental. His projections believable – a masterwork.McGregor’s comment: “Tracking Chinese politics is sometimes akin to the work of an archaeologist who must painstakingly piece together ancient artifacts, gathering a shard of information here and there over an extended period of time until the murky outlines of a past event gradually come into view.”He does the same for Japanese and American politics a brilliant piece of journalistic research showing the turbulent and dangerous interplay of world powers with shifting strengths and weaknesses up to the current cast of Xi Jinping, Shinzō Abe, and Donald J. Trump.