Ghost Nation is a sweeping look at Taiwan that uses the story of four centuries of colonial history to provide context for the country's complicated present. The book avoids both-sidesing Taiwan's political status, arguing that Taiwan is already an independent country -- a country that is vital to the survival of democracies as they grapple with the growing threat from authoritarianism. Ghost Nation draws upon extensive interviews with the people who have shaped modern Taiwan, including former presidents Lee Teng-hui and Tsai Ing-wen, as well as student leaders involved in the Wild Lily and Sunflower protest movements. Rather than approach Taiwan through the lens of China, or the US-China rivalry, Ghost Nation centers the story of the Taiwanese people to explain this dynamic and indispensable member of the global community.

Speaker:
Chris Horton is a Taipei-based journalist who has reported on Taiwan for publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg News, Nikkei Asia, The Atlantic, and elsewhere since 2015. Prior to Taiwan, Horton was a reporter in Hong Kong for two years, during which he covered the Umbrella protests, and in China, where for a decade-plus he focused on the ramifications of China's economic rise. 

Moderators:
Andy Sharp, Opinion editor, Nikkei Asia; Robert Dujarric, ICAS Co-director