No Limits | The Rupture

The Inside Story of China’s War with the West | China and the Global Race for the Future

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.

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.

Buy the Book

No Limits | US Edition

Hardback & E-Book: Hurst / Melville House
Hardback & Kindle: Amazon

The Rupture | UK/Commonwealth Edition

Hardback: Hurst / Melville House
Hardback & Kindle: Amazon

New Paperback Edition: Amazon

Also available at other brick and mortar bookshops with good taste.

Book Reviews

Shivshankar Menon, India’s former National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China

„In incisive analysis, this fills gaps in our understanding of the sources of China’s conduct and of the multiple considerations that determine European actions towards China.“

Aaron L. Friedberg, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University, and author of Getting China Wrong

„Over the past decade, democracies have started to recognise the economic, technological and ideological challenges posed by China to their prosperity and security. Small is uniquely well positioned to tell the story of this still-incomplete awakening. Essential reading.“

Minxin Pei, Tom and Margot Pritzker ’72 Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College, and author of China’s Crony Capitalism

„Thanks to his extensive involvement in Europe’s interaction with China, Small’s account provides a degree of immediacy and detail lacking in most books on the subject. A sobering story of how a well-intentioned and initially promising European effort of engagement ended in bitter disappointment for both sides.“

Mark Leonard, co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations

„The most important book about China written in the past decade. A gripping narrative of great poignancy; a must-read for anyone trying to make sense of the biggest story of our times.“

Internationale Politik, ‘Books of the Year’

„Anyone who wants to understand the rethinking of China policy that has taken place in recent years, and Beijing’s challenge to Germany and to Europe, must read this smart and compelling account by one of the best-informed insiders.“

Foreign Affairs

„[Small] tells the story with a combination of close detail and clear analysis that will inform both specialists and generalists.“

Stuart Lau, Politico

‚A real page-turner.‘

Global Asia

„China is now Washington’s “strategic competitor.” China’s bitter enemy of yesteryear, Russia, is now embraced by China in a “no limits” alliance. Andrew Small, who has spent more than two decades following Chinese foreign policy, offers an engaging, fine-grained analysis of this dramatic shift.“

Newsweek

“Small’s book, No Limits: The Inside Story of China’s War With the West, offers a compelling, first-person perspective on the West’s awakening to the systemic challenges posed by China”

Publishers Weekly

“Detailed and clear-sighted, this is a valuable report on a consequential global rivalry”

Kirkus Reviews

“Small ably traces how China went from partner to rival to threat and maps out the challenges that it now poses for the West”

Financial Times | Gideon Rachman

“The origins of the transformation in the west’s approach to China are explained in Andrew Small’s fast-paced and deeply researched book”

Best Book of 2022: Politics

“The Rupture / No Limits” named as one of the Financial Times “Best Politics Books of the Year” for 2022

The Guardian editorial

Macron and China – featuring analysis from “the Rupture”