The book, China Clipper tells the gripping true story of Pan American's flying boats and their role in the days leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in World War II between Imperial Japan and the United States.  "China Clipper" lays out in detail, the attitudes, situations, and strategies of both the United States and Japan in the 1930s.  Moreover, it reveals the forces that brought these great powers into a horrific confrontation in World War II.  The catalyst to a future war with Imperial Japan was the hijacking of Pan American's Hawaii Clipper by Japanese naval officers in order to capture a wealthy Chinese-American Restaurateur who was carrying a satchel full of relief money for the Chinese living in cities then being besieged by Japanese Troops.  While "China Clipper" can be read as an exciting war story based on true events, its major strength lies in its recreation of people and events previously only dimly known by the general public.  From the mid 1930s until the time when America was thrust into World War II, the development Pan American's pacific route structure paralleled the heightening tensions between the United States and militaristic forces of Imperial Japan.  In summary, "China Clipper" represents a compelling and thorough examination of the political and military forces in the Pacific region that eventually prompted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii on December 7, 1941.  The major sections of "China Clipper" are as follows: 1) Foreword; 2) Introduction; 3) Chapter 1 - Alameda On San Francisco Bay; 4) Chapter 2 - Take-off; 5) Chapter 3 - Pacific Perspective; 6) Chapter 4 - The Foundation Of An Empire; 7) Chapter 5 - Honolulu; 8) Chapter 6 - The Middle Kingdom Space Machine Family; 9) Chapter 7 - The Alliance; 10) Chapter 8 - Midway; 11) Chapter 9 - Scandal; 12) Chapter 10 - Protest; 13) Chapter 11 - Espionage; 14) Chapter 12 - Wake; 15) Chapter 13 - First Flight; 16) Chapter 14 - Amelia Earhart; 17) Chapter 15 - The Shanghai Incident; 18) Chapter 16 - Sabotage; 19) Chapter 17 - Guam - The Final Hours; 20) Epilogue; 21) Sources And Acknowledgements and 22) Index.  In addition to an informative narrative, "China Clipper" includes the following features: 1) Approximately 43 black and white photographs and 2) 1 black and white illustration.  "China Clipper" is highly recommended to aviation enthusiast and military history buffs alike.  This book is 224 pages and is in very good condition.  The author is Ronald W. Jackson.  Edition published in 1980.