This is the inside story of a revolution in China policy, from Washington to Brussels, Berlin to New Delhi. The Rupture explains how so many of the Western politicians, thinkers and business leaders closest to Beijing have transformed into its sharpest opponents; how this collective rethink was dramatically accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic; and why seemingly obscure debates over 5G technology have become the first test case as to whether the battle for the future may tilt in China's favour. Noted China expert Andrew Small offers his detailed account of a rivalry that ranges far beyond US-China 'great power' politics. He traces US efforts to recast relations with old allies, as Washington has realised that it cannot confront the Chinese challenge alone; he charts the growth of Europe's role in the technological and economic contest, and Beijing's attempts to build a coalition of its own, from Moscow to Taliban-run Kabul. The result is a kaleidoscopic picture showing the true significance of the emerging competition between systems and a lucid analysis of how the free-market, liberal-democratic model itself will be transformed - for China's rise will change the balance of ideas as much as it will change the balance of power.

The gripping story of a turning point in global affairs, as politicians belatedly awaken to serious systemic threats. This is the inside story of a revolution in China policy, from Washington to Brussels, Berlin to New Delhi. The Rupture explains how many of the Western politicians, thinkers and business leaders closest to Beijing have become its sharpest opponents; how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated this collective rethink; and why 5G represents the first test case as to whether China may win the battle for the future. Noted China expert Andrew Small offers a kaleidoscopic picture of a rivalry ranging far beyond 'great power' politics. He traces US efforts to recast relations with old allies, as Washington realises that it cannot confront China alone, charting Europe's growing role in the technological and economic contest, and Beijing's attempts to build a coalition of its own, from Moscow to Taliban-run Kabul. As competition grows between systems, the Western model itself is transforming-for China's rise changes the balance of ideas as much as the balance of power.

The Beijing-Islamabad axis plays a central role in Asia's geopolitics, from India's rise to the prospects for a post-American Afghanistan, from the threat of nuclear terrorism to the continent's new map of mines, ports and pipelines. China is Pakistan's great economic hope and its most trusted military partner; Pakistan is the battleground for China's encounters with Islamic militancy and the heart of its efforts to counter-balance the emerging US-India partnership. For decades, each country has been the other's only 'all-weather' friend. Yet the relationship is still little understood. The wildest claims about it are widely believed, while many of its most dramatic developments are hid- den from the public eye. This book sets out the recent history of Sino-Pakistani ties and their ramifications for the West, for India, for Afghanistan, and for Asia as a whole. It tells the stories behind some of its most sensitive aspects, including Beijing's support for Pakistan's nuclear program, China's dealings with the Taliban, and the Chinese military's planning for crises in Pakistan.It describes a relationship increasingly shaped by Pakistan's internal strife, and the dilemmas China faces between the need for regional stability and the imperative for strategic competition with India and the USA.