Indo-Pacific Empire: China, America and the Contest for the World's Pivotal Region, Hardcover

What we call a part of the world - Asia, Europe, the Middle East - seems innocuous. But the name of a region is totemic: a mental map that guides the decisions of leaders and the story of international order, war and peace. In recent years, the label 'Indo-Pacific' has suddenly gained wide use, including among the leaders of the United States, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, France and others. But what does it really mean? The Indo-Pacific is both a place and an idea. It is the region central to global prosperity and security. It is also a metaphor for collective action. If diplomacy fails, it will be the theatre of the first general war since 1945. But if its future can be secured, the Indo-Pacific will flourish as a shared space, the centre of gravity in a connected world. Written by a recognised expert and regional policy insider, this is the definitive guide to tensions in the region. It weaves together history, geopolitics, cartography, military strategy, economics, games and propaganda to address a vital question: how can China's dominance be prevented without war?

Rory Medcalf is a Professor and Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. His experience as an Australian diplomat includes postings to New Delhi, Tokyo and Papua New Guinea. He was a senior strategic analyst in Australia's peak intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments, reporting to the Prime Minister. He was the founding director of the international security program at the Lowy Institute. He has published and been quoted widely in academic journals and all major Australian newspapers as well as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Economist, The South China Morning Post and The Hindu, as well as on the ABC, BBC and CNN.