Beyond ‘The Avoidable War’: Why America Must Prepare for Confrontation with China
For years, the dominant conversation surrounding U.S.-China relations has been guided by a single, hopeful imperative: conflict avoidance. Influential works have framed the central challenge as an “avoidable war” or an “accidental conflict,” suggesting that with better diplomacy and mutual understanding, catastrophe can be averted.
But what if this consensus, however well-intentioned, is dangerously incomplete? What if we are preparing for the wrong scenario?
This question is at the heart of the new book by Dr. Derek Levine, China's Path to Dominance: Preparing for Confrontation with the United States. This book puts forth a challenging, realist thesis: while we must always hope for peace, we must be fully prepared for the alternative. It argues that the prevailing narrative of "managed strategic competition" may not be enough to safeguard American interests in the face of a China that is clear-eyed and determined in its pursuit of regional, and ultimately global, primacy.
Every day, headlines from the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the global technology race underscore the escalating tensions. Policymakers and military strategists are tasked with the monumental responsibility of navigating this perilous landscape. They operate in a world of risk, where they must consider not just the most likely scenarios but the most dangerous ones.
Derek’s research contends that viewing the U.S.-China relationship solely through the lens of conflict avoidance risks strategic surprise. It is the intellectual equivalent of preparing only for a drizzle when a hurricane is a distinct possibility.
This book was written for the individuals on the front lines of this challenge.
For the policymaker, it offers a "Plan B"—a rigorous framework for a world in which managed competition fails.
For the military professional, it provides an unvarnished analysis of the strategic balance and the operational realities of potential confrontation.
For the academic and researcher, it challenges prevailing theoretical models and offers a new perspective grounded in an analysis of China's stated ambitions and demonstrated capabilities.
I am proud to announce that China's Path to Dominance: Preparing for Confrontation with the United States is now available.
This is not a call for war. It is a call for clear-eyed preparation and a robust, national debate grounded in reality. It is an argument that the surest way to preserve peace is to be fully prepared for the alternative.
I invite you to join this critical conversation.
Order your copy today on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTTNT8F9
