THE FOUR FLASHPOINTS

Beneath the smiles and handshakes, Asia is at a dangerous moment. The doomsday clock has reached two minutes to midnight, as the possibility of global catastrophe looms ever closer.

In this revelatory analysis, strategic expert Brendan Taylor examines the four Asian flashpoints that are most likely to erupt in sudden and violent conflict: the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, the South China Sea and the East China Sea. He argues that crisis can only be averted by understanding the dynamics of these global hotspots and the complex interrelations between them. Drawing on history, contemporary sources and in-depth reports to weave an analysis both pertinent and chilling, Taylor asks what the world's major powers can do to avoid an eruption of war.

Dr Brendan Taylor is Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. He is the author or editor of eight books, including, most recently, Australia's American Alliance. His writings have also appeared in leading policy journals such as The Washington Quarterly, International Affairs and Survival.