Gideon Rachman's 'Easternisation' Analyzes Asia's Rising Power and Potential Conflict with the West

In his book 'Easternisation: War and Peace in the Asian Century,' Gideon Rachman examines the evolving global power landscape as Asia's dominance grows. By 2025, Asia will be home to two-thirds of the global population, bolstering its economic and military capabilities. Rachman points out that China is the largest economy when measured by purchasing power parity, with India and Japan ranking third and fourth, respectively. He warns that China's territorial ambitions in the South and East China Seas could provoke tensions with U.S. allies. The 2015 creation of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, which included the UK, Germany, and South Korea despite U.S. disapproval, signifies a shift away from America's role as the primary global economic supporter. Rachman references the 'Thucydides trap,' indicating that conflict is probable when a rising power confronts an established one.