Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival

by Chris Horton

'Compelling and important' - Rana Mitter, The Observer

'Few books qualify as essential reading but Ghost Nation is one of them' - Clive Hamilton, bestselling co-author of The Hidden Hand

The gripping story of Taiwan's rich past and precarious present from one of the country's top foreign correspondents.

With all eyes on Ukraine and the Middle East, Taiwan is emerging as the next geopolitical tinderbox. Despite sitting at the heart of the tense relationship between China and the US, Taiwan’s history and its people have long been overlooked and misunderstood. In Ghost Nation, Taiwan-based journalist Chris Horton tells their stories and explores why this diplomatically isolated country has become such an important player on the world stage.

As China’s military preparations continue apace, the stakes have never been higher. Perched precariously on the fault-lines of global power, the fate of this vibrant democracy and tech colossus will shape Asia’s future – either containing or facilitating China’s expansionist goals.

Drawing from over a decade of living and reporting in Taiwan, and informed by interviews with everyday citizens, presidents and other key figures, Horton provides a panoramic view of this fascinating country. Ghost Nation will leave readers with a profound appreciation for Taiwan’s struggle for self-determination – and its pivotal role in our shared future.

'Indispensable and timely' - Melissa Chan, Emmy-nominated international affairs correspondent

'An unmissable account . . . Accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched' - Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former Director of the China Policy Institute

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2025

Reviews

[David Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read several of the new Taiwan explainers, histories, and general introductions, i.e. "Taiwan books" out on the market (in addition to reviews of nearly all of them), and also having worked as a journalist in Taiwan for 20+ years, I can say this is probably the best of the lot. It's highly readable and the only one written from extensive on-the-ground experience in Taiwan––the author Christ Horton has been a reporter in Taipei for a decade, writing for NYT, the Guardian, and the Atlantic. This is also the only recent book to do justice to Taiwan's contemporary politics, as most of the other new Taiwan books were written by armchair experts in the UK, Washington DC, North Atlantic think tanks, etc, who are pretty clueless on anything that happened in Taiwan's domestic political arena after about 2005. Most importantly, Horton does something that none of the others do: provide a decent history of Taiwan's evolution from dictatorship to democracy, a movement which then segues into the current-era emergence of "Taiwanese identity" and a majority-supported movement for self-determination.

Most standard analysis of Taiwan btw focuses on Taiwan as part of a power triangle dominated by Washington DC and Beijing, and as a result tends to ignore the Taiwanese, who they are, and what they want. If you want to understand these things, then this is a very good book to give you a basic primer.

As for drawbacks, the organization of certain chapters can feel a little disjointed, especially in the tail end of the book. (The middle section of the book is extremely solid and the best part.) I should also note that the author also writes as a partisan of Taiwan's pro-independence green / DPP faction, and casts Taiwan's other major political party, the KMT, as a perpetual bogeyman, a characterization they deserve, but not all the time. To paraphrase Deng Xiaoping, one might say the KMT were 30% in the wrong; as a 113-year-old political party, they deserve a more unprejudiced and nuanced examination than you'll find here. Still, for a reasonably solid understanding of Taiwan today, this is probably the best "Taiwan book" currently out there.

[Shreela Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks @IBC & Pan Macmillan for this book.

Ghost nation is really absorbing, simple & at the same time hard-hitting,
an intimate modern history of Taiwan.

Horton really tells Taiwan's "story", seen through a lens both extensively studied, & personally experienced. It speaks of misunderstandings & atrocities, of blind territorial greed & deep sense of belongingness, of pitiless despots & believers in humanity & dignity, of breathtaking technological forward march & decades of progress wiped away in a day.

It is a sobering & humbling read... I am so lucky that I am reading this; not living this!!
I was seriously impressed & genuinely moved how organically women are a part of the revolutions & politics... Not as an afterthought!

I enjoyed both Horton's selection of information included, & his tone & direction. This is a really great introductory book, can't say how much those who are already well-acquainted with the subject will enjoy it.

[Nikhil Ahirwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

for me it was pretty good read to know more about Taiwan. And more profoundly the relationship between China and Taiwan. Before this book i know only like normal people out there and here that Taiwan is island and there is only one ethnicity which is Chinese, they are fighting for democracy with their own kinds of people which is quite not true. Taiwan is country comprises of different ethnicity, they are standing or fighting for not only country but also for culture, custom, tradition which is totally different from so called 'Chinese' tradition. Taiwan is not only fighting to external force that is China but also internal who are Chinese people(migrating when communist party took over China).

downsides to book are sometime its feels like too much history or information oriented, though some people finds it good but i don't like it.

Conclusion: I would like everyone to read this book, and particularly for those who are interested in Geopolitics.

[Konrad Iturbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Understanding the history of this tiny island that holds massive importance in the global economy and modern functioning of the world is something I've had on my todo list for a while. Chris' book goes thru the varied history of Taiwan, and shows a country that grew in a way quite similar to mine. From a military dictatorship, different invaders and empires shored up on different time-frames, to a democracy trying to resist the ever entrenched claws of the CCP, creeping in every aspect of their life.

[Liz Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Taiwanese, I don't know why, but I was expecting more from this book.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I enjoyed the research and hard work that Chris put into the book.
Nevertheless, I was looking for something more than just history I guess.

Still recommended tho. especially if you are not familiar with Taiwan's History. Thank you to Chris for speaking up for Taiwan and telling our story.

[Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive but highly partisan. The author loves every neoliberal touchstone (muh democracy, muh globalhomo) and laps up the DPP's talking points. Nevertheless, probably worth the read.