The China Mirage: The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia By James Bradley

The China Mirage examines the long and complicated relationship between the United States and China from the nineteenth century to the Second World War. Historian James Bradley argues that American perceptions of China were often shaped by myths and misunderstandings.

The book explores the influence of missionaries, politicians, and business leaders who promoted the idea that China would eventually become a Western-style democracy. Bradley suggests that these unrealistic expectations helped shape U.S. policies that later contributed to conflicts in Asia.