What do you think?
Rate this book
China Unbound: A New World Disorder
As the world’s second-largest economy, China is extending its influence across the globe with the complicity of democratic nations.
Joanna Chiu has spent a decade tracking China’s propulsive rise, from the political aspects of its multi-billion-dollar “New Silk Road” global investment project to its growing sway over foreign countries and multilateral institutions through “United Front” efforts.
For too long, Western societies have mishandled or simply ignored Beijing’s actions, out of narrow self-interest. Over time, Chiu argues, decades of willful misinterpretation have become harmful complicity in the toxic diplomacy, human rights abuses and foreign interference seen from China today.
Engaging chapters transport readers to a frozen lake in Russia, protests in Hong Kong, underground churches in Beijing, and exile Uyghur communities in Turkey, exposing Beijing’s high-tech surveillance and aggressive measures, which result in human rights violations against those who challenge its power.
The new world disorder documented in China Unbound lays out its disturbing implications for global stability, prosperity, and civil rights everywhere.
Joanna Chiu has spent a decade tracking China’s propulsive rise, from the political aspects of its multi-billion-dollar “New Silk Road” global investment project to its growing sway over foreign countries and multilateral institutions through “United Front” efforts.
For too long, Western societies have mishandled or simply ignored Beijing’s actions, out of narrow self-interest. Over time, Chiu argues, decades of willful misinterpretation have become harmful complicity in the toxic diplomacy, human rights abuses and foreign interference seen from China today.
Engaging chapters transport readers to a frozen lake in Russia, protests in Hong Kong, underground churches in Beijing, and exile Uyghur communities in Turkey, exposing Beijing’s high-tech surveillance and aggressive measures, which result in human rights violations against those who challenge its power.
The new world disorder documented in China Unbound lays out its disturbing implications for global stability, prosperity, and civil rights everywhere.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2021
82 people are currently reading
3052 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 27, 2021
Page 297 (my book) quoted from Richard Madsen’s book “China and the American Dream” published in 1995
“The dominant American myth about China born in the 1960s, foresaw Western ideals of economic, intellectual, and political freedom emerging triumphant throughout the world.”
“China Unbound” is an all-encompassing look at the expanding and formidable global reach of China.
Within China - and in its dealings with other countries - there is little concern for human rights. China reaches out through various proxy groups to Chinese expat communities in many countries to promote the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. Rich business people in China often have strong affiliations with the Communist Party. And if overseas Chinese are antagonistic to the Beijing line - like favouring pro-democracy in Hong Kong, or promoting human rights for workers, their families in China can face intimidation and threats. Those overseas often face online harassment and even physical threats – this has happened in both Canada and Australia.
The Chinese Communist Party has long tentacles. It has little toleration for criticism; not only from overseas Chinese, but from citizens of other countries. This can make life very difficult for Chinese people in other countries who can be erroneously lumped and characterized as being pro-Communist when in fact they have fled China to seek security and protection from the Chinese Communist Party. As the author points out the Chinese community is not a monolith.
The author travels to several countries. She was born in Hong Kong and is now a journalist in Canada. She narrates clearly how Beijing has whittled at rights and democracy in Hong Kong. For example, if one is arrested in Hong Kong, they will now be extradited and face trial on the Chinese mainland where the conviction rate is close to 99%.
In Canada she speaks with Chinese students who undergo online harassment and their families back in China face persecution for what their children post online.
Page 103 Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia
“Its unsettling to know these people – who are our people, who live in our communities – are subject to surveillance and harassment by a foreign government on Canadian soil,’ he said with a grave expression. “What’s equally shocking is how fearful they are. When we meet in my office, they want the blinds closed.”
The author goes to Australia which also faces pressure from China. It took the Australian government a long learning curve to understand the increasing pressure they faced over the years from ever-growing and onerous trade demands from China.
In Italy and Greece, the author spoke with business people who signed huge financial agreements with China to be a part of the “New Silk Road” trading routes that are extending across Asia to Europe. Business and government people in Italy and Greece want to help their financially declining economies.
Page 207-08
Nicolas Vernicos put it plainly: “The Chinese found out that by financing the infrastructure of the countries you conquer them.”
There are many Uyghur communities in Turkey who fled from China (the Uyghur language is Turkic in origin). They are now fearful of the growing economic and friendship ties between President Erdogan and President Xi Jinping.
Page 237
Beijing’s ruthless treatment of minority groups should deeply worry leaders and citizens of democratic countries that support universal human rights. With China on the rise, what kind of global leader would it make if it became the world’s most powerful economy?
The author also brings up China’s relationship with Russia and the United States. While Putin and Xi Jinping espouse great friendship - the author points out that what is happening at ground level in Russia appears to contradict this. It is much more fraught with the Russia people expressing a disdain for Chinese people – perhaps a jealousy at the many advancements that China has made over the last thirty while their country continues to wallow in corruption.
The China – U.S. relationship is also complicated.
Page 316
When President Trump and other American figureheads fail to uphold supposedly foundational American ideals like rule of law and democracy, this naturally invites outside accusations of hypocrisy. China’s philosophy about global order is also opposed to allowing values like human rights to dominate international governance systems. Together, these factors, American and Chinese, weaken rules-based global institutions like the United Nations.
This book is very current and relevant, being published in 2021. It serves as a grave warning of the ever-rising Chinese colossus. Will the U.S. and European Community be out-muscled financially and economically by China which some polls now say has more billionaires than any other country. Many of these billionaires have strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party which has no interest in promoting a human rights agenda and a liberal press. The political situation in Hong Kong provides us with a dire warning.
This book gives us a strong understanding of what lies ahead with a global China. Another excellent book on this subject is “China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants are Building a New Empire in Africa”.
“The dominant American myth about China born in the 1960s, foresaw Western ideals of economic, intellectual, and political freedom emerging triumphant throughout the world.”
“China Unbound” is an all-encompassing look at the expanding and formidable global reach of China.
Within China - and in its dealings with other countries - there is little concern for human rights. China reaches out through various proxy groups to Chinese expat communities in many countries to promote the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. Rich business people in China often have strong affiliations with the Communist Party. And if overseas Chinese are antagonistic to the Beijing line - like favouring pro-democracy in Hong Kong, or promoting human rights for workers, their families in China can face intimidation and threats. Those overseas often face online harassment and even physical threats – this has happened in both Canada and Australia.
The Chinese Communist Party has long tentacles. It has little toleration for criticism; not only from overseas Chinese, but from citizens of other countries. This can make life very difficult for Chinese people in other countries who can be erroneously lumped and characterized as being pro-Communist when in fact they have fled China to seek security and protection from the Chinese Communist Party. As the author points out the Chinese community is not a monolith.
The author travels to several countries. She was born in Hong Kong and is now a journalist in Canada. She narrates clearly how Beijing has whittled at rights and democracy in Hong Kong. For example, if one is arrested in Hong Kong, they will now be extradited and face trial on the Chinese mainland where the conviction rate is close to 99%.
In Canada she speaks with Chinese students who undergo online harassment and their families back in China face persecution for what their children post online.
Page 103 Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia
“Its unsettling to know these people – who are our people, who live in our communities – are subject to surveillance and harassment by a foreign government on Canadian soil,’ he said with a grave expression. “What’s equally shocking is how fearful they are. When we meet in my office, they want the blinds closed.”
The author goes to Australia which also faces pressure from China. It took the Australian government a long learning curve to understand the increasing pressure they faced over the years from ever-growing and onerous trade demands from China.
In Italy and Greece, the author spoke with business people who signed huge financial agreements with China to be a part of the “New Silk Road” trading routes that are extending across Asia to Europe. Business and government people in Italy and Greece want to help their financially declining economies.
Page 207-08
Nicolas Vernicos put it plainly: “The Chinese found out that by financing the infrastructure of the countries you conquer them.”
There are many Uyghur communities in Turkey who fled from China (the Uyghur language is Turkic in origin). They are now fearful of the growing economic and friendship ties between President Erdogan and President Xi Jinping.
Page 237
Beijing’s ruthless treatment of minority groups should deeply worry leaders and citizens of democratic countries that support universal human rights. With China on the rise, what kind of global leader would it make if it became the world’s most powerful economy?
The author also brings up China’s relationship with Russia and the United States. While Putin and Xi Jinping espouse great friendship - the author points out that what is happening at ground level in Russia appears to contradict this. It is much more fraught with the Russia people expressing a disdain for Chinese people – perhaps a jealousy at the many advancements that China has made over the last thirty while their country continues to wallow in corruption.
The China – U.S. relationship is also complicated.
Page 316
When President Trump and other American figureheads fail to uphold supposedly foundational American ideals like rule of law and democracy, this naturally invites outside accusations of hypocrisy. China’s philosophy about global order is also opposed to allowing values like human rights to dominate international governance systems. Together, these factors, American and Chinese, weaken rules-based global institutions like the United Nations.
This book is very current and relevant, being published in 2021. It serves as a grave warning of the ever-rising Chinese colossus. Will the U.S. and European Community be out-muscled financially and economically by China which some polls now say has more billionaires than any other country. Many of these billionaires have strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party which has no interest in promoting a human rights agenda and a liberal press. The political situation in Hong Kong provides us with a dire warning.
This book gives us a strong understanding of what lies ahead with a global China. Another excellent book on this subject is “China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants are Building a New Empire in Africa”.
April 26, 2022
The author, a Chinese-Canadian journalist, explores China's growing role as a superpower. It's a subtle, multifaceted book. She points out that it was suggested in the 1970s that increased trade and cultural contacts with the west would result in increased liberalization, but that has not happened, and she explores the relationship between economic ties and political implications in interesting ways.
I had never heard before of the United Front, by which the Chinese government seeks to stifle political opposition, including abroad. Chiu tells, for example, of a Chinese student abroad who, using a pseudonym, re-tweeted a handful of tweets critical of the government, to his grand total of two followers - and he and his family heard about it from the authorities. Chiu also makes the point that the government regards first and second-generation Chinese immigrants in other countries as Chinese for their purposes. She emphasizes that racism towards people of Chinese origin that equates them with the Chinese government and echoes old myths of the 'yellow peril' can risk further imperiling the government's opponents, and that other governments, including the Canadian one, should take Chinese government efforts to intimidate people of Chinese origin abroad seriously.
Chiu also delves into China's Belt and Road Initiative, or the New Silk Road, which involves investing in infrastructure in other countries to further their trade interests. She asks how this investment is regarded on the ground, and how it impacts other aspects of countries' relationships with China. I was very interested in her chapters on Italy, Turkey, and Russia. The one on Turkey, in particular, was eye-opening as I learned more about the Uyghur population in China and Turkey. I knew something about their persecution in China, but little of their history. They are a Turkic people, and in the face of persecution, many of them have ended up in Turkey, essentially stateless (as they cannot renew their Chinese passports without a one-way ticket back, possibly to a 'reeducation camp'). However, the long arm of the Chinese government can still reach out towards them, and as Turkish economic ties with China increase, so too might the small breathing space that some of these persecuted people have found in Turkey decrease.
A denser read than I expected, and not a page-turner, but I'm glad to have read it. And, I will note, there is also a quite weird and unexpected (including to the author, no doubt!) bit about a film executive-produced by Steve Bannon which featured a character based on the author. It seems Bannon and his cronies have declared their own competing Chinese government, the Federal Republic of China, and are churning out some bizarre disinformation and harassment in its name....
I had never heard before of the United Front, by which the Chinese government seeks to stifle political opposition, including abroad. Chiu tells, for example, of a Chinese student abroad who, using a pseudonym, re-tweeted a handful of tweets critical of the government, to his grand total of two followers - and he and his family heard about it from the authorities. Chiu also makes the point that the government regards first and second-generation Chinese immigrants in other countries as Chinese for their purposes. She emphasizes that racism towards people of Chinese origin that equates them with the Chinese government and echoes old myths of the 'yellow peril' can risk further imperiling the government's opponents, and that other governments, including the Canadian one, should take Chinese government efforts to intimidate people of Chinese origin abroad seriously.
Chiu also delves into China's Belt and Road Initiative, or the New Silk Road, which involves investing in infrastructure in other countries to further their trade interests. She asks how this investment is regarded on the ground, and how it impacts other aspects of countries' relationships with China. I was very interested in her chapters on Italy, Turkey, and Russia. The one on Turkey, in particular, was eye-opening as I learned more about the Uyghur population in China and Turkey. I knew something about their persecution in China, but little of their history. They are a Turkic people, and in the face of persecution, many of them have ended up in Turkey, essentially stateless (as they cannot renew their Chinese passports without a one-way ticket back, possibly to a 'reeducation camp'). However, the long arm of the Chinese government can still reach out towards them, and as Turkish economic ties with China increase, so too might the small breathing space that some of these persecuted people have found in Turkey decrease.
A denser read than I expected, and not a page-turner, but I'm glad to have read it. And, I will note, there is also a quite weird and unexpected (including to the author, no doubt!) bit about a film executive-produced by Steve Bannon which featured a character based on the author. It seems Bannon and his cronies have declared their own competing Chinese government, the Federal Republic of China, and are churning out some bizarre disinformation and harassment in its name....
August 20, 2023
This is perhaps the most critical review that I have written on Goodreads thus far. A part of me still wants to deduct another star, but the quality of writing alongside the impressive research effort evident in this book prevents me from doing so. Joanna Chiu is undeniably well-spoken, delivering convincing arguments left, right, and center. Persuasion appears to come naturally to her to a point where one's willpower to dissent seems to be tamed on the spot.
I had set out to read this book with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the discourse surrounding China during my trip to the country. If I wanted to understand such discourse, I needed to familiarize myself with both sides. The introduction gave me reason to hope: the author claimed to contextualize China in an objective manner. However, by the time I reached the end of the first chapter, I knew I was going to read a scathing review of what I consider a greatly misunderstood country. There were undertones of bias and an onslaught of pointed remarks drizzled throughout the book. It seems to me that the author was not keen on letting readers form their own opinion, rather she seemed set on prescribing conclusions.
China Unbound opens with a discussion of underground churches within the country. While Chiu provides readers with some historical context on China's unease toward religious practices introduced by early missionaries from the West, she is quick to denounce the country's treatment of Christian believers. For the book to maintain the objectivity it advertised, it would have been nice for the author to detail more positive instances of Christian communities living in the country (as I have had the opportunity to witness). While I do not wish to take a political stance whether in favor or against the Chinese government, I cannot help but feel that Chiu is selectively choosing to report negative stories -- especially those that may be incriminating -- despite having brought up a few positive ones. This becomes more apparent when she delves into the pro-democracy movement stretching across Hong Kong. Once again, Chiu does shed some light on the "century of humiliation" that the Chinese endured during the Opium Wars -- a time when China was obliged to cede the island to the British. Following that, Chiu goes on to excoriate China for its bleak human rights record. Not only that, she swiftly dismisses allegations of American foreign-interference without fully considering its merit. A similar pattern is observed when she talks about Australia's Port Darwin, Greece's Piraeus, and Italy.
One thing I appreciate from Chiu's account is her remark on misinformation and its lesser known cousin, disinformation -- false information intentionally spread to mislead. She espouses that America's flirtations with disinformation, especially during Trump's presidency, undermines its role as a champion for western democratic values by discrediting what it holds dear ideologically. This book was certainly informal; the only qualm I have is its pretense to offer an objective account of China. As with any book, it is always best to absorb facts and reflect on the viewpoints put forth.
I had set out to read this book with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the discourse surrounding China during my trip to the country. If I wanted to understand such discourse, I needed to familiarize myself with both sides. The introduction gave me reason to hope: the author claimed to contextualize China in an objective manner. However, by the time I reached the end of the first chapter, I knew I was going to read a scathing review of what I consider a greatly misunderstood country. There were undertones of bias and an onslaught of pointed remarks drizzled throughout the book. It seems to me that the author was not keen on letting readers form their own opinion, rather she seemed set on prescribing conclusions.
China Unbound opens with a discussion of underground churches within the country. While Chiu provides readers with some historical context on China's unease toward religious practices introduced by early missionaries from the West, she is quick to denounce the country's treatment of Christian believers. For the book to maintain the objectivity it advertised, it would have been nice for the author to detail more positive instances of Christian communities living in the country (as I have had the opportunity to witness). While I do not wish to take a political stance whether in favor or against the Chinese government, I cannot help but feel that Chiu is selectively choosing to report negative stories -- especially those that may be incriminating -- despite having brought up a few positive ones. This becomes more apparent when she delves into the pro-democracy movement stretching across Hong Kong. Once again, Chiu does shed some light on the "century of humiliation" that the Chinese endured during the Opium Wars -- a time when China was obliged to cede the island to the British. Following that, Chiu goes on to excoriate China for its bleak human rights record. Not only that, she swiftly dismisses allegations of American foreign-interference without fully considering its merit. A similar pattern is observed when she talks about Australia's Port Darwin, Greece's Piraeus, and Italy.
One thing I appreciate from Chiu's account is her remark on misinformation and its lesser known cousin, disinformation -- false information intentionally spread to mislead. She espouses that America's flirtations with disinformation, especially during Trump's presidency, undermines its role as a champion for western democratic values by discrediting what it holds dear ideologically. This book was certainly informal; the only qualm I have is its pretense to offer an objective account of China. As with any book, it is always best to absorb facts and reflect on the viewpoints put forth.
October 6, 2021
3.5/5. This is a book written for the general public, with an aim of educating and warning of China‘s domestic behaviours. The author succeeds with that mission- writing an approachable, easy-to-read, brief introduction on what behaviours to keep close watch on. I would highly recommend this for the general public, but not necessarily to someone working in IR.
Demonstrates an incredible research effort on the author‘s part. However, it is written quite anecdotally, and is missing a leading thread / clear argument for me. Still a very eye-opening read on the reality of contemporary China.
Demonstrates an incredible research effort on the author‘s part. However, it is written quite anecdotally, and is missing a leading thread / clear argument for me. Still a very eye-opening read on the reality of contemporary China.
October 13, 2021
One of the most cherished freedoms accorded to the citizens of any nation is that of free speech. Stifling free speech and compromising the right of individuals to criticize the Government does not augur well for the socio-cultural progress of any nation. This notwithstanding the fact that economically such a nation might still be a force to reckon with. The Supreme Court of the United States in the case Brandenburg v Ohio declared in 1969 that even inflammatory speech, such as racist language by a Ku Klux Klan leader deserves protection unless such a speech has the potential to cause imminent violence. China, under the iron fisted leadership of Xi Jinping has exacerbated its authoritarian bent since the time the man assumed leadership of his country. Mercilessly cracking down on dissenters, blocking social media websites and subjecting millions of Uighur Muslims to surveillance and forced detention camps, euphemistically termed “reeducation centres”, China has made an absolute mockery of human rights.
However as acclaimed journalist and China expert, Joanna Chiu blisteringly reveals in her book, “China Unbound”, the autocratic machinery of China employs its economic muscle and political clout to not just keep its own citizens under check, but also to continually monitor, influence and at times even, threaten, people of Chinese descent who happen to be living in countries away from China. While there exists a plethora of books dealing with various political, cultural, economic and social aspects characterizing China, there are very few books that provide a unique perspective on the peculiarly difficult situations that stare non-Chinese citizens of Chinese descent in the face. Based in Vancouver, Joanna Chiu is a Vancouver-based covers both Canada-China relations and current affairs on the West Coast for the Star. A former correspondent in Hong Kong and Beijing, and a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism, also an expert commentator on broadcast networks and chairs the not-for-profit NüVoices network to support women and minorities in China-related fields.
The United Front exists in relative obscurity within the bowels of the powerful Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But there is nothing that is either reticent or reluctant when it comes to the remit of the United Front. Recruiting non-CCP members to promote China’s interests, the United Front offers luring baits such as payments and political donations to influence. Joanna Chiu provides as an illustration the leaked screenshots published in the Washington Post in 2019 which depicted Chinese embassy officials in Ottawa instructing students of Chinese descent to find out information about a talk at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, on rights of Uyghur minorities in China, and to collect data on whether Chinese nationals were involved in organizing the Canadian event. Even celebrities such as Jackie Chan know-tow to the philosophy of the United Front by mouthing platitudes and singing the glories of the CPC, literally. Chan, in fact appears on state sponsored Chinese television singing patriotic songs and ballads such as “Amazing China”.
In 2017, Australian Labour senator Sam Dastyari, made a disgraceful exit from his position after it was revealed that he was more or less functioning as a quasi-mouthpiece in for the CCP in Australia. Exceeding his yearly travel budget by A$1,670 in 2016, he got a Chinese-government-linked Top Education Institute to fork up the differential. The private school was run by Chinese businessman Zhu Minshen, who in 2014 was a delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the CCP’s prestigious advisory body and highest-level United Front organ. Earlier, Dastyari had allegedly demanded a company owned by his party’s major political donor, Huang Xiangmo, to help him pay a A$44,000 settlement for an undisclosed “outstanding legal matter.” He even accepted a fifteen-day free trip to China from the Australian Fellowship of China Guangdong Associations.
The Belt and Road Initiative has also provided China an alluring platform to push through its tyrannical philosophies. Countries attracted by the prospect of an economic revival, courtesy, expedient funding of gargantuan proportions by the Chinese financial institutions, realise that being beneficiaries of a Chinese largesse comes with its own burdens and conditions. These nations invariably end up endorsing, if not committing to controversial positions taken by China at various multilateral organisations such as the United Nations. Thus the diametrically tangential position taken by Greece on supporting China against allegations of human rights abuse, in absolute contradiction to that espoused by the European Union ended up antagonizing the EU.
Joanna Chiu concentrates on the countries of Australia, Canada, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, Russia, United States and Turkey in demonstrating how a steadfast relationship with China, by no stretch of imagination, means a cozy bed of roses. Canada learnt this the hard way. Despite a burgeoning trade and a prosperous economic relationship, the Sino-Canadian relationship reached a boiling point on the 1st of December 2018, when Canadian police arrested Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver International Airport. The arrest was a consequence of an extradition request from the U.S. Department of Justice. The business tycoon was of lying to HSBC Bank about her Huawei’s relationship with an Iran-based affiliate, putting the bank at risk of violating American sanctions. The Chinese retaliation was swift and ruthless. A mere nine days after Meng’s arrest, Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat living in Beijing, was apprehended by the Chinese authorities without charge. Soon this was followed by the arrest of another Michael, the journalist Michael Spavor. The two Michaels were kept in custody for 3 years and were hardly given access to either legal or consular assistance. Finally they were released in October 2021.
Italy was one of the very first countries to offer wholehearted endorsement of the Belt and Road Initiative. When the European Union was still assessing the impact of the BRI, Italy rushed full steam ahead by signing a slew of agreements. However as Chiu writes, not every deal was straightforward or simple. The intrepid and fearless Italian journalist Guilia Pompili, under an incendiary heading “Who put China in Government”, wrote a scathing piece on former Under Secretary of State, Michele Geraci, who was credited with bringing Chinese investments into Italy. Casting aspersions on the “methods” employed by Geraci to in attracting Chinese investments, Pompili lambasted him and accused him as being one, “ready to do anything to please the Chinese.” Raising questions not just on the expenses incurred by Geraci frequent trips to China, Pompili also questioned his qualifications to teach finance at Nottingham University’s business school in Ningbo, China, when his training and most of his work experience was as an engineer. Obviously, this piece did not go down well in Beijing. Chinese embassy spokesman, Yang Han, confronted Pompili in front of a group of other Italian journalists before the press conference outside the Quirinal Palace where President Xi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella were about to formally announce Italy’s participation in the New Silk Road. He demanded that she stop writing critical articles about China. When she told Yang, whom she had never met before, that it was her job to write critically, he told her, “Anyway, I know who you are.”
In the year 2017, then Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, discussed in the Parliament the explosive contents of a classified report that was painstakingly put together by John Garnaut — Turnbull’s security adviser and a former China-based foreign correspondent. This report constituted a study of Chinese influence on Australian politics. The conclusions were also shared with foreign governments, and with the press. As Turnbull put it while unveiling the counter-interference strategy in December 2017, “Our diaspora communities are part of the solution, not the problem.” Even large ethnic Chinese communities supported the foreign interference legislation. In late September 2021, Australian Foreign Minister cancelled a memorandum entered into by the Victorian State Government to participate in the BRI. An enraged China in a show of immature and apparent anger, indefinitely suspended all activities with Australia under a framework called the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. China’s foreign ministry also warned Australia “not to walk further on the wrong path”. China also instructed its traders to stop importing products such as coal, barley, copper ore and concentrate, sugar, timber, wine and lobster.
In a brazen and blatant testimony to the tightening influence of mainland China on Hong Kong, a law called the national security law was promulgated in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020. Singularly, and alarmingly draconian in nature, the law bans all activities which Beijing deems a danger to its national security. Incredibly and ludicrously the application of law was proclaimed as encompassing within its remit not just the actions of everyone in Hong Kong but to the actions of anyone outside the region as well. On August 26, 2020, the Hong Kong police audaciously issued an arrest warrant for Samuel Chu, an American citizen living in Los Angeles, who had supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement from afar on social media. Alvin Cheung, former Hong Kong barrister and current non-resident affiliated scholar of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute at New York University, “pointed out that people should avoid boarding flights operated by Cathay Pacific and other vessels registered in Hong Kong, since the security law also states that it applies “aboard ships or aircraft registered in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
China at the time of this review, is also making incursion into Taiwanese airspace with impudence and impetuosity in addition to effecting ‘beach landings’ adjacent to the coast of Taiwan. This is more a statement than a signal. A statement that seems to convey the ominous fact that the territory of Taiwan is ripe for the picking. This in spite of the United States using its aircraft carriers and naval fleet to conduct Freedom Of Navigation Operations (FONOP) traversing the South China Sea. The newly formed “Quad” alliance consisting of India, Japan, Australia and the United States as a balancing mechanism to keep an over ambitious China under check also seems to be having a bare minimum impact on China, which continues to plough ahead relentlessly in its intentions, robustly aided in its efforts by a wolf warrior diplomacy.
In a geopolitical scenario reminiscent of the Cold War era where two economic and military superpowers locked horns, the world waits with bated breath in anticipation of a move of indiscretion that has the capacity to trigger a calamitous dominos effect and bring the entire globe to a boil. Joanna Chiu’s erudite and meticulously researched book illustrates in frightening detail some of the potent and potential trigger factors that may hasten unintended consequences.
However as acclaimed journalist and China expert, Joanna Chiu blisteringly reveals in her book, “China Unbound”, the autocratic machinery of China employs its economic muscle and political clout to not just keep its own citizens under check, but also to continually monitor, influence and at times even, threaten, people of Chinese descent who happen to be living in countries away from China. While there exists a plethora of books dealing with various political, cultural, economic and social aspects characterizing China, there are very few books that provide a unique perspective on the peculiarly difficult situations that stare non-Chinese citizens of Chinese descent in the face. Based in Vancouver, Joanna Chiu is a Vancouver-based covers both Canada-China relations and current affairs on the West Coast for the Star. A former correspondent in Hong Kong and Beijing, and a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism, also an expert commentator on broadcast networks and chairs the not-for-profit NüVoices network to support women and minorities in China-related fields.
The United Front exists in relative obscurity within the bowels of the powerful Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But there is nothing that is either reticent or reluctant when it comes to the remit of the United Front. Recruiting non-CCP members to promote China’s interests, the United Front offers luring baits such as payments and political donations to influence. Joanna Chiu provides as an illustration the leaked screenshots published in the Washington Post in 2019 which depicted Chinese embassy officials in Ottawa instructing students of Chinese descent to find out information about a talk at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, on rights of Uyghur minorities in China, and to collect data on whether Chinese nationals were involved in organizing the Canadian event. Even celebrities such as Jackie Chan know-tow to the philosophy of the United Front by mouthing platitudes and singing the glories of the CPC, literally. Chan, in fact appears on state sponsored Chinese television singing patriotic songs and ballads such as “Amazing China”.
In 2017, Australian Labour senator Sam Dastyari, made a disgraceful exit from his position after it was revealed that he was more or less functioning as a quasi-mouthpiece in for the CCP in Australia. Exceeding his yearly travel budget by A$1,670 in 2016, he got a Chinese-government-linked Top Education Institute to fork up the differential. The private school was run by Chinese businessman Zhu Minshen, who in 2014 was a delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the CCP’s prestigious advisory body and highest-level United Front organ. Earlier, Dastyari had allegedly demanded a company owned by his party’s major political donor, Huang Xiangmo, to help him pay a A$44,000 settlement for an undisclosed “outstanding legal matter.” He even accepted a fifteen-day free trip to China from the Australian Fellowship of China Guangdong Associations.
The Belt and Road Initiative has also provided China an alluring platform to push through its tyrannical philosophies. Countries attracted by the prospect of an economic revival, courtesy, expedient funding of gargantuan proportions by the Chinese financial institutions, realise that being beneficiaries of a Chinese largesse comes with its own burdens and conditions. These nations invariably end up endorsing, if not committing to controversial positions taken by China at various multilateral organisations such as the United Nations. Thus the diametrically tangential position taken by Greece on supporting China against allegations of human rights abuse, in absolute contradiction to that espoused by the European Union ended up antagonizing the EU.
Joanna Chiu concentrates on the countries of Australia, Canada, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, Russia, United States and Turkey in demonstrating how a steadfast relationship with China, by no stretch of imagination, means a cozy bed of roses. Canada learnt this the hard way. Despite a burgeoning trade and a prosperous economic relationship, the Sino-Canadian relationship reached a boiling point on the 1st of December 2018, when Canadian police arrested Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver International Airport. The arrest was a consequence of an extradition request from the U.S. Department of Justice. The business tycoon was of lying to HSBC Bank about her Huawei’s relationship with an Iran-based affiliate, putting the bank at risk of violating American sanctions. The Chinese retaliation was swift and ruthless. A mere nine days after Meng’s arrest, Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat living in Beijing, was apprehended by the Chinese authorities without charge. Soon this was followed by the arrest of another Michael, the journalist Michael Spavor. The two Michaels were kept in custody for 3 years and were hardly given access to either legal or consular assistance. Finally they were released in October 2021.
Italy was one of the very first countries to offer wholehearted endorsement of the Belt and Road Initiative. When the European Union was still assessing the impact of the BRI, Italy rushed full steam ahead by signing a slew of agreements. However as Chiu writes, not every deal was straightforward or simple. The intrepid and fearless Italian journalist Guilia Pompili, under an incendiary heading “Who put China in Government”, wrote a scathing piece on former Under Secretary of State, Michele Geraci, who was credited with bringing Chinese investments into Italy. Casting aspersions on the “methods” employed by Geraci to in attracting Chinese investments, Pompili lambasted him and accused him as being one, “ready to do anything to please the Chinese.” Raising questions not just on the expenses incurred by Geraci frequent trips to China, Pompili also questioned his qualifications to teach finance at Nottingham University’s business school in Ningbo, China, when his training and most of his work experience was as an engineer. Obviously, this piece did not go down well in Beijing. Chinese embassy spokesman, Yang Han, confronted Pompili in front of a group of other Italian journalists before the press conference outside the Quirinal Palace where President Xi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella were about to formally announce Italy’s participation in the New Silk Road. He demanded that she stop writing critical articles about China. When she told Yang, whom she had never met before, that it was her job to write critically, he told her, “Anyway, I know who you are.”
In the year 2017, then Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, discussed in the Parliament the explosive contents of a classified report that was painstakingly put together by John Garnaut — Turnbull’s security adviser and a former China-based foreign correspondent. This report constituted a study of Chinese influence on Australian politics. The conclusions were also shared with foreign governments, and with the press. As Turnbull put it while unveiling the counter-interference strategy in December 2017, “Our diaspora communities are part of the solution, not the problem.” Even large ethnic Chinese communities supported the foreign interference legislation. In late September 2021, Australian Foreign Minister cancelled a memorandum entered into by the Victorian State Government to participate in the BRI. An enraged China in a show of immature and apparent anger, indefinitely suspended all activities with Australia under a framework called the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. China’s foreign ministry also warned Australia “not to walk further on the wrong path”. China also instructed its traders to stop importing products such as coal, barley, copper ore and concentrate, sugar, timber, wine and lobster.
In a brazen and blatant testimony to the tightening influence of mainland China on Hong Kong, a law called the national security law was promulgated in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020. Singularly, and alarmingly draconian in nature, the law bans all activities which Beijing deems a danger to its national security. Incredibly and ludicrously the application of law was proclaimed as encompassing within its remit not just the actions of everyone in Hong Kong but to the actions of anyone outside the region as well. On August 26, 2020, the Hong Kong police audaciously issued an arrest warrant for Samuel Chu, an American citizen living in Los Angeles, who had supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement from afar on social media. Alvin Cheung, former Hong Kong barrister and current non-resident affiliated scholar of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute at New York University, “pointed out that people should avoid boarding flights operated by Cathay Pacific and other vessels registered in Hong Kong, since the security law also states that it applies “aboard ships or aircraft registered in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
China at the time of this review, is also making incursion into Taiwanese airspace with impudence and impetuosity in addition to effecting ‘beach landings’ adjacent to the coast of Taiwan. This is more a statement than a signal. A statement that seems to convey the ominous fact that the territory of Taiwan is ripe for the picking. This in spite of the United States using its aircraft carriers and naval fleet to conduct Freedom Of Navigation Operations (FONOP) traversing the South China Sea. The newly formed “Quad” alliance consisting of India, Japan, Australia and the United States as a balancing mechanism to keep an over ambitious China under check also seems to be having a bare minimum impact on China, which continues to plough ahead relentlessly in its intentions, robustly aided in its efforts by a wolf warrior diplomacy.
In a geopolitical scenario reminiscent of the Cold War era where two economic and military superpowers locked horns, the world waits with bated breath in anticipation of a move of indiscretion that has the capacity to trigger a calamitous dominos effect and bring the entire globe to a boil. Joanna Chiu’s erudite and meticulously researched book illustrates in frightening detail some of the potent and potential trigger factors that may hasten unintended consequences.
October 4, 2022
One of the most timely books of its kind that I could find. Heavy reading filled with great research and brave people telling their stories.
February 7, 2022
If there is ONE contemporary book on China everyone should read to gain a nuanced understanding of present-day concerns surrounding the country, it should be this one. Now I can just throw this at my friends instead of making them read my research papers!
Joanna Chiu’s journalistic style of writing aided the flow and descriptive tone so much, in an easy-to-understand way that even my Dad enjoyed reading. (She is also such a lovely human being that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few times). It isn’t difficult to see why she is an award-winning journalist who has extremely insightful and in-depth understanding on the topic due to her experience in journalism on China.
This book was actually one of my most anticipated releases of 2021! “So why did you take so long to finally complete it, Kayli?” you may ask. Frankly, I didn’t want this to end. I wish that I had been the one to write this, HAHA. I appreciate so much how the themes and discussions throughout it also relate directly to what I wish to research in my MA Thesis, being—how can we report on China in a way that is nuanced and critical, yet does not play into what some argue to be Sinophobic framings? I also appreciate how her Canadian background, combined with her expertise, brings Canada (and Vancouver) into the picture—especially with the recent chaos with the 2 Michaels revealing how utterly incompetent the current government is with handling China-related foreign policy, and protecting dissidents & activists from United Front harassment/threats.
Joanna not only summarizes the historical background of how we got to ‘here’, but also gives us a ‘tour’ through 9 nation-states to give us insight into how each views/situates China, and some current issues and areas of concern (i.e.: the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong’s erosion of freedoms, Australia’s struggle with foreign policy). I greatly enjoyed all of the inserted interviews with experts, activists, and dissidents throughout the book as well, as I know she provided them with great intent to share their stories and boost awareness.
Another excellent segment I appreciated was the “Turkey” chapter, which summarized and shared the ongoing persecution of the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other minorities in NW China. The inclusion of a Kazkah woman’s testimony was emotional and impactful alongside a historical summary of Xinjiang, and once again, contributed to the overarching nuance of this book.
I love how she tackles common misperceptions and myths regarding China, and this really came to a head in the final chapter (on the United States). The consistent framings or common viewpoint of China through the lens of “yellow peril” or “Red Communists!” is not helpful nor beneficial in effective policy making. In Canada our foreign policy is basically embarrassingly nonexistent towards China and in the U.S. it is embarrassingly over-hawkish. The fragility of democracies has been exposed (i.e.: trump era, brexit failures) as we have seen with CCP media propaganda poking at Western states or democracies as being hypocritical. Furthermore, such framings fall conveniently into a CCP playbook tool of accusing its critics of being racist. Chiu ensures readers understand not to view the entirety of the CCP as a monolith, much like how China itself as a country is not a monolithic entity (i.e.: the people are separate from the Party); therefore it is incorrect to imply anyone of Chinese descent belongs to Beijing.
Chiu’s book is timely and fills a gap in China & IR non-fiction that is VERY much so needed.
Joanna Chiu’s journalistic style of writing aided the flow and descriptive tone so much, in an easy-to-understand way that even my Dad enjoyed reading. (She is also such a lovely human being that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few times). It isn’t difficult to see why she is an award-winning journalist who has extremely insightful and in-depth understanding on the topic due to her experience in journalism on China.
This book was actually one of my most anticipated releases of 2021! “So why did you take so long to finally complete it, Kayli?” you may ask. Frankly, I didn’t want this to end. I wish that I had been the one to write this, HAHA. I appreciate so much how the themes and discussions throughout it also relate directly to what I wish to research in my MA Thesis, being—how can we report on China in a way that is nuanced and critical, yet does not play into what some argue to be Sinophobic framings? I also appreciate how her Canadian background, combined with her expertise, brings Canada (and Vancouver) into the picture—especially with the recent chaos with the 2 Michaels revealing how utterly incompetent the current government is with handling China-related foreign policy, and protecting dissidents & activists from United Front harassment/threats.
Joanna not only summarizes the historical background of how we got to ‘here’, but also gives us a ‘tour’ through 9 nation-states to give us insight into how each views/situates China, and some current issues and areas of concern (i.e.: the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong’s erosion of freedoms, Australia’s struggle with foreign policy). I greatly enjoyed all of the inserted interviews with experts, activists, and dissidents throughout the book as well, as I know she provided them with great intent to share their stories and boost awareness.
Another excellent segment I appreciated was the “Turkey” chapter, which summarized and shared the ongoing persecution of the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other minorities in NW China. The inclusion of a Kazkah woman’s testimony was emotional and impactful alongside a historical summary of Xinjiang, and once again, contributed to the overarching nuance of this book.
I love how she tackles common misperceptions and myths regarding China, and this really came to a head in the final chapter (on the United States). The consistent framings or common viewpoint of China through the lens of “yellow peril” or “Red Communists!” is not helpful nor beneficial in effective policy making. In Canada our foreign policy is basically embarrassingly nonexistent towards China and in the U.S. it is embarrassingly over-hawkish. The fragility of democracies has been exposed (i.e.: trump era, brexit failures) as we have seen with CCP media propaganda poking at Western states or democracies as being hypocritical. Furthermore, such framings fall conveniently into a CCP playbook tool of accusing its critics of being racist. Chiu ensures readers understand not to view the entirety of the CCP as a monolith, much like how China itself as a country is not a monolithic entity (i.e.: the people are separate from the Party); therefore it is incorrect to imply anyone of Chinese descent belongs to Beijing.
Chiu’s book is timely and fills a gap in China & IR non-fiction that is VERY much so needed.
June 3, 2022
“China Unbound. A New World Disorder” by Joanna Chiu is a such a timely book, explaining China’s influence in several countries around the world. Brilliantly researched and covering complex aspects: political, cultural, economic, psychological even, it does not shy away from sensitive issues and controversies and presents the impact of the tentacles of the octopus that China seems to be in a fascinating and well informed way.
I found it very rewarding to finally read an analysis which doesn’t place the US (about which there is only one short chapter) or the UK (no mention at all) in the centre of the debate. Chiu focuses on her home country, Canada, next to other democracies: Australia, Italy and Greece, as well as authoritarian regime of Russia and the country on the path to become one: Turkey. The author begins, though, by defining the state of affairs closer to the epicentre, in chapters devoted to Beijing and Hong Kong. What I always find interesting about China, and what Chiu highlighted is how “collective amnesia about traumatic events [here she means mainly the Cultural Revolution], and the public’s desire to focus on the future, is a good thing for China’s government”. The approach with which the Chinese are governed is one of a carrot and a stick, and it seems that it has been working pretty okay (even the pandemic didn’t seem to cause too much of ‘luan’ - state of confusion and turmoil bordering on chaos). When it comes to relations with other countries the approach must be different. And so the government uses common sentiments about looted cultural heritage when interacting with Greeks, bonds over some shared antidemocratic values with Russians, terrorises Australians and Canadians of Chinese origin, using them as a bargaining chip, and so one. There is no one-size-its-all approach. Everywhere, however, it benefits from the fact that Western countries do not constitute moral authority globally anymore, certainly not after the completely amateurish handling of the pandemic, and one exposé after another of the hypocrisy when it comes to, for instance, human rights or climate crisis.
I would have liked to read about China’s relations with African and Gulf states, as well as other Asian ones, especially Japan, South Korea and India. Yet, I understand how difficult it would be to discuss all this in one book. I don’t think there is a better work, and a more readable one, than “China Unbound” currently on the market which would analyse China’s politics with regards to foreign affairs. The 2022 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, which Chiu won two weeks ago, is very much deserved.
I found it very rewarding to finally read an analysis which doesn’t place the US (about which there is only one short chapter) or the UK (no mention at all) in the centre of the debate. Chiu focuses on her home country, Canada, next to other democracies: Australia, Italy and Greece, as well as authoritarian regime of Russia and the country on the path to become one: Turkey. The author begins, though, by defining the state of affairs closer to the epicentre, in chapters devoted to Beijing and Hong Kong. What I always find interesting about China, and what Chiu highlighted is how “collective amnesia about traumatic events [here she means mainly the Cultural Revolution], and the public’s desire to focus on the future, is a good thing for China’s government”. The approach with which the Chinese are governed is one of a carrot and a stick, and it seems that it has been working pretty okay (even the pandemic didn’t seem to cause too much of ‘luan’ - state of confusion and turmoil bordering on chaos). When it comes to relations with other countries the approach must be different. And so the government uses common sentiments about looted cultural heritage when interacting with Greeks, bonds over some shared antidemocratic values with Russians, terrorises Australians and Canadians of Chinese origin, using them as a bargaining chip, and so one. There is no one-size-its-all approach. Everywhere, however, it benefits from the fact that Western countries do not constitute moral authority globally anymore, certainly not after the completely amateurish handling of the pandemic, and one exposé after another of the hypocrisy when it comes to, for instance, human rights or climate crisis.
I would have liked to read about China’s relations with African and Gulf states, as well as other Asian ones, especially Japan, South Korea and India. Yet, I understand how difficult it would be to discuss all this in one book. I don’t think there is a better work, and a more readable one, than “China Unbound” currently on the market which would analyse China’s politics with regards to foreign affairs. The 2022 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, which Chiu won two weeks ago, is very much deserved.
November 1, 2021
An enjoyable read.
This is the story of how a one party state uses economic means to gain political influence in the world on the path to becoming a dominating power. We learn through the eyes of key witnesses from several nations the various real costs of dealing with China. Chinese investments serve a purpose of controlling individuals, corporations and states resulting in losses of state and personal freedoms. The One China agenda poses a threat to its own citizens and neighbour states. Pursuing a a goal of unification, China is eliminating cultures, languages on its own soil. All dissenters on the mainland and abroad are pursued mercilessly, there must be only one voice in the end. The country applies the same logic of threats and bullying in its relationships with other states.
25 years ago several american think tanks predicted that China would become a liberal democratic state as a result of having private capital and an accelerated economic development. It could not have been more wrong: seeing other societies through the filters of your own culture explains why these types of forecasts can be so misguided. The author describes the challenges China poses to mid sized powers such as Australia and Canada and how financially distressed countries such as Greece and Italy after having received massive chinese financial investements in infrastructure have become quasi satellite states to China even contradicting EU efforts in standing up to chinese imperialism.
An important and well written book that should be read by all individuals concerned with the survival of democracies, freedoms and the rule of law.
This is the story of how a one party state uses economic means to gain political influence in the world on the path to becoming a dominating power. We learn through the eyes of key witnesses from several nations the various real costs of dealing with China. Chinese investments serve a purpose of controlling individuals, corporations and states resulting in losses of state and personal freedoms. The One China agenda poses a threat to its own citizens and neighbour states. Pursuing a a goal of unification, China is eliminating cultures, languages on its own soil. All dissenters on the mainland and abroad are pursued mercilessly, there must be only one voice in the end. The country applies the same logic of threats and bullying in its relationships with other states.
25 years ago several american think tanks predicted that China would become a liberal democratic state as a result of having private capital and an accelerated economic development. It could not have been more wrong: seeing other societies through the filters of your own culture explains why these types of forecasts can be so misguided. The author describes the challenges China poses to mid sized powers such as Australia and Canada and how financially distressed countries such as Greece and Italy after having received massive chinese financial investements in infrastructure have become quasi satellite states to China even contradicting EU efforts in standing up to chinese imperialism.
An important and well written book that should be read by all individuals concerned with the survival of democracies, freedoms and the rule of law.
October 22, 2021
I found myself with a headache from clenching my jaw tight while I read page after page. This book is masterfully written, like a true life thriller except you really wish it were fiction.
As I dug deeper into the book I was able to make more connections about past and present global events. I lost count of how often I said "now I get it". Part of this could be due to my ignorance but Chiu covers China's influence across the globe.
This book should be required reading for anyone old enough to vote. Dare I say for anyone who holds an opinion.
As I dug deeper into the book I was able to make more connections about past and present global events. I lost count of how often I said "now I get it". Part of this could be due to my ignorance but Chiu covers China's influence across the globe.
This book should be required reading for anyone old enough to vote. Dare I say for anyone who holds an opinion.
December 15, 2021
Outstanding read.
Extremely important book.
Really well researched.
Joanna is impressive. She goes right to the source to get the stories in this book. Lots of courage!
I'd recommend reading this alongside Wilful Blindness: How a Criminal Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West and Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada - both books are excellent companion reads to this book.
Highly recommended if you're interested in international relations and political science.
4.8/5
Extremely important book.
Really well researched.
Joanna is impressive. She goes right to the source to get the stories in this book. Lots of courage!
I'd recommend reading this alongside Wilful Blindness: How a Criminal Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West and Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada - both books are excellent companion reads to this book.
Highly recommended if you're interested in international relations and political science.
4.8/5
October 9, 2021
Fantastic read for anyone who wants to better understand the complex relationships between China and the international community. Engaging, informative and well written. Would highly recommend!
January 1, 2022
This book is mainly a detailed exploration of China's influence campaigns abroad, and the insidious nature thereof. While most country's counter-espionage units are focused on "big things" - i.e. not having their central databases hacked and national secrets leaked - China is doing lots of "small things", which go under the radar. To a large extent, this consists of currying favor with low level politicians - low as in "Mayor of Port Coquitlam" level low - with the expectation that in return, they will do small things to advance the CCPs agenda. This happens on a very large scale, so the small things add up.
For example, the book tells the story of the prospective Canadian politician Alan Harris who was campaigning for a seat on a rural council in Clarington Ontario, a small town I never heard of where "cows outnumber people" (Alan Harris's words, not mine). During his campaign, he received an invitation for an expenses-paid "friendship trip" to Xining, China, which he turned down. Although it didn't work on Alan (who had read about Beijing's influence campaigns), this type of strategy was more successful in Australia. In 2015, the government of the Northern Territory in Australia announced (without consulting the federal government) that they were leasing Port Darwin to the Chinese company Landbridge for 99 years. The deal was done and could apparently not be retracted, but it led to an investigation where it was found that many low to mid level Australian politicians had been "bought" by the CCP using tactics similar to the ones attempted on Alan Harris. This resulted in a majority overhaul of laws relating to foreign interference - for example, foreign political donations were made illegal (this, along with other favors, is how the CCP had bought local politicians in order to obtain Port Darwin.
Another goal of China's foreign influence campaigns is to control the Chinese diaspora living abroad. The book goes into great detail about the threats and intimidation Chinese nationals abroad or people of Chinese descent living in places like Canada experience if they do anything even mildly critical of the government. For example, this is the twitter account of Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong activist now living in exile in England.
https://twitter.com/nathanlawkc?ref_s...
For Chinese nationals living abroad, doing something like retweeting something Nathan said, even using a fake account, is enough to get your parents living at home a visit from the police, and messages from the police appearing in your WeChat asking you to take down the retweet (the book describes into detail such a story, experienced by a Chinese studying abroad in Ontario). We could perhaps test this, but I doubt any of the Chinese I know living abroad in Canada would be willing to be the guinea pig.
"I spoke with Brad West, mayor of Port Coquitlam, a small city near Vancouver, who was shocked to learn that dozens of his constituents had received threatening phone calls and even in person visits from Chinese government officials. None of the targets were public figures: they were mostly first- or second-generation immigrants from China in a variety of ordinary professions. His constituents saied the Chinese officials expressed anger over "little things, like a post on social media or attendance at a certain event," West told me, adding that he had alerted the police and federal agencies to the threats, because the individuals themselves were too scared to file reports. "It's so unsettling to know these people - who are our people, who live in our communities - are subject to surveillance and harassment by a foreign government on Canadian soil. What's equally shocking is how fearfully they are. When we meet in my office, they want the blinds closed. That's how fearful they are."
China's government will sometimes go past intimidation and attempt to co-opt Chinese living abroad as spies. For example, screenshots leaked by the Washington Post in February 2019 showed Chinese Embassy officials in Ottawa instructing students to Chinese descent to gain information on a talk of the rights of Uyghur minorities in China and inform the embassy whether any Chinese nationals were involved in organizing the talk by advocate Rukiye Turdush at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. The Chinese embassy in Canada denied it had anything to do with the actions but stated "We strongly support the just and patriotic actions of Chinese Students".
Finally, the book examines in some detail China's "New Silk Road'' project and it's likely goals. One recurring pattern seems to be that China lends money to build a port, and then when the money can't be repaid instead leases the port for 99 years. In this way, like Port Darwin in Australia, China gradually accumulates leased ports for its use around the world. But while China may occasionally intentionally create debt traps in order to obtain ports, the main goal seems to be to create a strong alliance of genuine allies that it can then use to change the balance of world power in its own favor.
All in all a very good read and very up to date - published November 29 2021. Highly recommended.
For example, the book tells the story of the prospective Canadian politician Alan Harris who was campaigning for a seat on a rural council in Clarington Ontario, a small town I never heard of where "cows outnumber people" (Alan Harris's words, not mine). During his campaign, he received an invitation for an expenses-paid "friendship trip" to Xining, China, which he turned down. Although it didn't work on Alan (who had read about Beijing's influence campaigns), this type of strategy was more successful in Australia. In 2015, the government of the Northern Territory in Australia announced (without consulting the federal government) that they were leasing Port Darwin to the Chinese company Landbridge for 99 years. The deal was done and could apparently not be retracted, but it led to an investigation where it was found that many low to mid level Australian politicians had been "bought" by the CCP using tactics similar to the ones attempted on Alan Harris. This resulted in a majority overhaul of laws relating to foreign interference - for example, foreign political donations were made illegal (this, along with other favors, is how the CCP had bought local politicians in order to obtain Port Darwin.
Another goal of China's foreign influence campaigns is to control the Chinese diaspora living abroad. The book goes into great detail about the threats and intimidation Chinese nationals abroad or people of Chinese descent living in places like Canada experience if they do anything even mildly critical of the government. For example, this is the twitter account of Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong activist now living in exile in England.
https://twitter.com/nathanlawkc?ref_s...
For Chinese nationals living abroad, doing something like retweeting something Nathan said, even using a fake account, is enough to get your parents living at home a visit from the police, and messages from the police appearing in your WeChat asking you to take down the retweet (the book describes into detail such a story, experienced by a Chinese studying abroad in Ontario). We could perhaps test this, but I doubt any of the Chinese I know living abroad in Canada would be willing to be the guinea pig.
"I spoke with Brad West, mayor of Port Coquitlam, a small city near Vancouver, who was shocked to learn that dozens of his constituents had received threatening phone calls and even in person visits from Chinese government officials. None of the targets were public figures: they were mostly first- or second-generation immigrants from China in a variety of ordinary professions. His constituents saied the Chinese officials expressed anger over "little things, like a post on social media or attendance at a certain event," West told me, adding that he had alerted the police and federal agencies to the threats, because the individuals themselves were too scared to file reports. "It's so unsettling to know these people - who are our people, who live in our communities - are subject to surveillance and harassment by a foreign government on Canadian soil. What's equally shocking is how fearfully they are. When we meet in my office, they want the blinds closed. That's how fearful they are."
China's government will sometimes go past intimidation and attempt to co-opt Chinese living abroad as spies. For example, screenshots leaked by the Washington Post in February 2019 showed Chinese Embassy officials in Ottawa instructing students to Chinese descent to gain information on a talk of the rights of Uyghur minorities in China and inform the embassy whether any Chinese nationals were involved in organizing the talk by advocate Rukiye Turdush at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. The Chinese embassy in Canada denied it had anything to do with the actions but stated "We strongly support the just and patriotic actions of Chinese Students".
Finally, the book examines in some detail China's "New Silk Road'' project and it's likely goals. One recurring pattern seems to be that China lends money to build a port, and then when the money can't be repaid instead leases the port for 99 years. In this way, like Port Darwin in Australia, China gradually accumulates leased ports for its use around the world. But while China may occasionally intentionally create debt traps in order to obtain ports, the main goal seems to be to create a strong alliance of genuine allies that it can then use to change the balance of world power in its own favor.
All in all a very good read and very up to date - published November 29 2021. Highly recommended.
January 27, 2022
I wasn’t able to update my place in this book after a certain point, given that Goodreads states it ends after 304 pages (it’s actually 370 pages). Anyway, I’ve finished now. Joanna Chiu is a great journalist, and I found her perspective - and subsequent book - to be pragmatic and distinctive in its novel approach of explaining China’s respective goals and histories through the lenses of eight countries.
When speaking of Beijing itself, succeeded by chapters on Canada, Australia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia, and the US, Chiu seeks to understand China’s history with each nation, as well as its current influence/relationship, and what China is hoping to obtain in the future: domestically, and abroad, and in terms of the world order. She does a fantastic job of interviewing dissidents and government officials alike, as well as the business owners who have both profited immensely from Beijing’s interference, or lost greatly at the expense of pro-Beijing economic reforms.
A major fault I found with Chiu’s work was that her view on the US seemed to be greatly biased and one-sided. It seems she feels most Americans stand with Trump and hold “hawkish views” and “anti-Chinese” sentiments (even though Trump lost the popular vote in this country in 2016, something she fails to mention, as well as his re-election bid, of course).
A very brief mention is made of the Biden administration’s efforts to take joint action with allies and “impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials involved in the mass internment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.” You’d think this would be a bigger deal to Chiu and maybe warrant a slight bit of respect for America’s willingness to speak out against such atrocities, especially when the Uyghur cause is one she champions repeatedly throughout the book. But nope, she apparently believes it merits one simple sentence, and the abnormality of the Trump presidency in American history and politics is somehow more defining of the country’s culture as a whole than any other factor. Very strange.
I’d still recommend this book, as it was a compelling read full of great research and a great variety of opinions throughout the world on China’s influence and what people thought of the authoritarian government. I would, however, suggest to Chiu that it would be a great idea to follow her own advice when it comes to Chinese citizens, as to how she views American citizens (or the majority, or whites, mainly): judge people as individuals, not by their governments. I certainly know Trump and his hateful remarks are not, and never have been, indicative of my position on the Chinese, nor any other minority he bashed, and the same goes for the people I associate with.
When speaking of Beijing itself, succeeded by chapters on Canada, Australia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia, and the US, Chiu seeks to understand China’s history with each nation, as well as its current influence/relationship, and what China is hoping to obtain in the future: domestically, and abroad, and in terms of the world order. She does a fantastic job of interviewing dissidents and government officials alike, as well as the business owners who have both profited immensely from Beijing’s interference, or lost greatly at the expense of pro-Beijing economic reforms.
A major fault I found with Chiu’s work was that her view on the US seemed to be greatly biased and one-sided. It seems she feels most Americans stand with Trump and hold “hawkish views” and “anti-Chinese” sentiments (even though Trump lost the popular vote in this country in 2016, something she fails to mention, as well as his re-election bid, of course).
A very brief mention is made of the Biden administration’s efforts to take joint action with allies and “impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials involved in the mass internment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.” You’d think this would be a bigger deal to Chiu and maybe warrant a slight bit of respect for America’s willingness to speak out against such atrocities, especially when the Uyghur cause is one she champions repeatedly throughout the book. But nope, she apparently believes it merits one simple sentence, and the abnormality of the Trump presidency in American history and politics is somehow more defining of the country’s culture as a whole than any other factor. Very strange.
I’d still recommend this book, as it was a compelling read full of great research and a great variety of opinions throughout the world on China’s influence and what people thought of the authoritarian government. I would, however, suggest to Chiu that it would be a great idea to follow her own advice when it comes to Chinese citizens, as to how she views American citizens (or the majority, or whites, mainly): judge people as individuals, not by their governments. I certainly know Trump and his hateful remarks are not, and never have been, indicative of my position on the Chinese, nor any other minority he bashed, and the same goes for the people I associate with.
December 27, 2021
I really liked the structure of the book, with a separate chapter devoted to a different nation's relationship with China. However, the balance of information here isn't always presented with a rationalization conveyed to the reader. While the individual explorations of Sino- Italy, Greece, and Turkey relations are interesting, the omissions of Japan and the Koreas leave the reader a bit lost (I guess it's China meets the West?). Similarly, while Chiu's brief conclusion has strength, her theme/perspective throughout the book feels ambivalent. Even as an American of Asian descent who's been the target of racism,, it took me awhile to see that anti-Chinese/Asian sentiment in the western world was the parallel thread Chiu selected to balance her journalistic coverage of the Xi government's unsavory track record. It isn't really convincing. I think a better, more confident writer could do better. Overall, I found this book informative, easy to understand, and tedious despite fascinating details on every page.
September 30, 2022
Journalistic in style and wide ranging, Chiu's book too often moves on from complexities and does not account for its own Canadian perspective when making harsh claims about the Chinese government. It reads as opinion, and I believe the book could be better researched, for example, to footnote sources and relate more than one side of an issue.
Terms like 'the west', 'capitalism' and 'communism' need to be teased apart. More care could be taken with how the Chinese present has been shaped, rather than focusing on very brief interviews with people.
I also found assumptions about certain aspects of economics and a naivete about Greece in that chapter which I was very much looking forward to.
Terms like 'the west', 'capitalism' and 'communism' need to be teased apart. More care could be taken with how the Chinese present has been shaped, rather than focusing on very brief interviews with people.
I also found assumptions about certain aspects of economics and a naivete about Greece in that chapter which I was very much looking forward to.
October 30, 2022
Not my favourite book. Some fairly clear biases throughout the book, which to be fair, is pretty much plastered in the title. Written in reporter-like language, which is offputting, as the way the book is written, the lanugage is almost trying to come off as unbiased.
Was not as compelling to me as others I guess.
Was not as compelling to me as others I guess.
April 25, 2022
This book needed a better editor; journalism skills don't necessarily confer book writing ability.
February 8, 2022
7/7. This was a real eye-opener. This was an extremely readable book about China's position in world affairs and the extent of President Xi's authoritarianism. It was deeply disturbing to read about the extent that the Chinese government surveils and harasses citizens abroad, and that they are willing to kidnap and detain even foreigners. Xi is certainly just as dangerous as Putin, and the influence that China is attempting to garner (and has had some success garnering) among numerous country's in it's goal to dismantle American hegemony is alarming. I also appreciated how the book explains the plight of the Uyghurs, which is a subject about which I didn't have much knowledge. (I knew it was problematic that China was harassing them and had been accused of genocide against them, but didn't have a firm grasp of the history and specifics. I understand much better now.). I highly recommend this book.
December 10, 2022
This book is extremely biased. It is a western typical condescending view of China. The author has already damned China since the first chapter. The book talked about many controversy events, for all of them, the author managed to only find the most twisted argument possible against China. Some events described in the book are factually wrong.
It was a very painful read. It became more and more clear that the author personally detested China and it’s government. The author said she find it hard to swallow the positive comments made by others, and couldn’t understand the love Chinese people shows towards their own country.
The book is a pure personal vent. I wouldn’t recommend anyone this book. It is NOT a book to understand China’s politics or current events.
It was a very painful read. It became more and more clear that the author personally detested China and it’s government. The author said she find it hard to swallow the positive comments made by others, and couldn’t understand the love Chinese people shows towards their own country.
The book is a pure personal vent. I wouldn’t recommend anyone this book. It is NOT a book to understand China’s politics or current events.
October 13, 2021
As a former Vancouverite, I remember the Huawei arrest a few years back and the commotion surrounding it. The repurcussions to Canada following the arrest was just a glimpse of Chinas MO.
China Unbound delves deeper through the eyes of a travelling journalist. The book was accessible but also engaging and eye opening. The author provides an interesting narrative that ranges from high level observation and analysis to personal or individual accounts.
Couldn't put the book down!
China Unbound delves deeper through the eyes of a travelling journalist. The book was accessible but also engaging and eye opening. The author provides an interesting narrative that ranges from high level observation and analysis to personal or individual accounts.
Couldn't put the book down!
October 16, 2021
An incredibly thoughtful and well-researched book.
An incredibly thoughtful and well-researched book. This should be “required reading” by all western country readers! Ms. Chui brings a historical and geographical context to contemporary geopolitical issues in a very readable way.
An incredibly thoughtful and well-researched book. This should be “required reading” by all western country readers! Ms. Chui brings a historical and geographical context to contemporary geopolitical issues in a very readable way.
January 24, 2022
found this new book at the local library. gives an eclectic but wide-spanning view on how different countries are interacting geopolitically in these new times.
May 21, 2023
I thought quite a good, compellingly written story of China's international engagement.
Chiu makes effective use of case studies to illustrate the variety of ways that China engages abroad in countries from Canada to Russia to Greece. She does a good job of mixing factual, high-level reporting with anecdotes (perhaps leaning slightly more towards compelling anecdotes, but that also makes for more engaging reading).
Overall I think her narrative is well-nuanced and interesting, in essence laying out that there IS no one simple narrative or one experience of China's international engagement, it has happened in different ways in different countries, and the local reception has varied widely. Reading it now, about a year and a half after its publication, there are certainly areas where it already feels out of date, but that's just the nature of following China, as opaque and often-changing as it can be. That being said, the repeated use of "New Silk Road" drove me nuts, I haven't seen that in a while and I much prefer BRI.
Overall, worth a read if you're looking for something more on the popular side looking at China's international engagement.
Chiu makes effective use of case studies to illustrate the variety of ways that China engages abroad in countries from Canada to Russia to Greece. She does a good job of mixing factual, high-level reporting with anecdotes (perhaps leaning slightly more towards compelling anecdotes, but that also makes for more engaging reading).
Overall I think her narrative is well-nuanced and interesting, in essence laying out that there IS no one simple narrative or one experience of China's international engagement, it has happened in different ways in different countries, and the local reception has varied widely. Reading it now, about a year and a half after its publication, there are certainly areas where it already feels out of date, but that's just the nature of following China, as opaque and often-changing as it can be. That being said, the repeated use of "New Silk Road" drove me nuts, I haven't seen that in a while and I much prefer BRI.
Overall, worth a read if you're looking for something more on the popular side looking at China's international engagement.
July 29, 2024
Joanna Chiu's China Unbound is a nuanced read about China and also the global rise in authoritarianism As the world’s second-largest economy, China is extending its influence across the globe with the complicity of democratic nations.
The Western world view of the "East" and their lack of understanding of the way China works, economic self-interest and ineptitude has created a superpower with significant influence over its subjects across the world
Chiu offers readers background on the protests in Hong Kong, underground churches in Beijing, and exile Uyghur communities in Turkey, and exposes Beijing’s high-tech surveillance and aggressive measures that result in human rights violations against those who challenge its power.
Well written and researched, serves as great primer for understanding modern China.
The Western world view of the "East" and their lack of understanding of the way China works, economic self-interest and ineptitude has created a superpower with significant influence over its subjects across the world
Chiu offers readers background on the protests in Hong Kong, underground churches in Beijing, and exile Uyghur communities in Turkey, and exposes Beijing’s high-tech surveillance and aggressive measures that result in human rights violations against those who challenge its power.
Well written and researched, serves as great primer for understanding modern China.
November 4, 2021
China Unbound reveals the various ways China has been using to extend its influence on other countries, in particular those in the middle power category (Canada, Australia, Italy, Greece) plus Turkey, Russia and the US. These questionable and some illegal "extensions" of its foreign policy include various methods as summarized in the list below [country examples quoted for each method], which the author has unveiled based on her references to news or information plus meetings with various sources. The way these were detailed by country elucidates a clear picture how different approaches were applied to different depending on the weakness of those being targeted.
• Track and monitor Chinese nationals living abroad for any negative criticisms of China, especially through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WeChat. Action: Cross border warning and threat to the person via their China relatives or direct contact via WeChat app. [e.g. Canada]
• Set up in overseas countries disguised Chinese community associations (e.g. student, professional, cultural, diasporas, ... ) with funding and support of the United Front (controlled by the Chinese Communist Party) and sometimes with the coordination of local Chinese consular officials. Action: Identify, recruit and organise ethnic Chinese descents to protest, spy, harass and confront people critical of China's events and actions (e.g. Uyghur camps) [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Foreign influence via espionage and interference to get overseas countries' leaders and politicians to make concessions in negotiations, policies, trade, investments, and procurement with China. Action: Make use of donations, bribery, contributions to fundraising, lobbying, and expenses-paid trips & travels, effusive flatteries etc to entice targeted subjects to leak classified information or switch to pro-China position. [e.g. Canada, Australia, Italy]
• Ban imports of overseas countries as a means of retaliation to whatever criticisms, policies, actions or reactions made which China is not happy with. Action: Make "inventing excuses" to penalize the target countries to suffer in export trade. [e.g. Canada, Australia, Denmark, Czech]
• Halt the overseas countries income in certain industries. Action: Ban China travel tours, block concerts & games from overseas countries to China. [e.g. Korea, US]
• Acquire ownership, operation or access rights in infrastructures, sea & maritime facilities in overseas countries. Action: Take advantage of the economic vulnerability of the target countries by direct investment or substitute as a country's debt payment. [e.g. Australia, Greece]
• Influence overseas countries to bend on policies or court cases that China regards as unfavourable. Action: Detain targeted country's citizens (natural born or ethnic Chinese descent) living or visiting China accused of crime without any proof and use them as hostages to bargain for China's requests. [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Economic integration of overseas countries with China in order to develop their export reliant on the Chinese market such that it will be difficult for them to de-couple without second thought to the economic impact before being critical to China, including its internal or foreign policy to China, else they will face import suspension or high tariff by China. Action: Identify those goods that need to be imported to China and pick targeted countries to lock down their trade dependency economically. This also includes taking lead or participate in Asia-Pacific region trade partnerships (e.g. RCEP, CPTPP) in order to gain more economic integration with targeted countries. [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Align foreign countries to the Belt and Road Initiative (BPI) for the new Silk Road, part of China's foreign policy. Action: Sign up projects and trade agreements related to BPI that serves China in multiple purposes, including export of its over supply in material (e.g. steel) and man power (e.g. engineers); overseas lending to BPI targeted countries that may end up as their "debt trap" which China will acquire the property, operation & access rights, natural resources etc as payment to the debt ... in particular those related to infrastructure, ports, transport, energy. In other cases, the boosting of bilateral trade volume for BRI can cohere political cooperation and treaties out of economic interests. [e.g. Italy, Greece, Sri Lanka, Turkey]
• Direct foreign investments to countries that need financial relief to boost their economy. Action: Direct investments and trade agreements to help the targeted countries, which increase mutual political trust and cooperation. Hence, gained these countries to vote in international organizations (e.g. UN, EU) to stand with China's position. On the other hand, Chinese goods are able to be imported to these countries to dominate and overrun the local small businesses. [e.g. Italy, Greece]
• Political alignment with states that hold parallel authoritarian power, international complementary interest, and opposition to American hegemony. Action: Bilateral trade and direct investments for mutual benefits and economical needs (e.g. oil & gas); "friendly" treaty for geopolitical cooperation; [e.g. Russia]
It is also important to note that these methods deployed in the targeted countries through high-level state leaders or officials, are not necessary agreed or accepted from the perspective of ground-level citizens and local businesses, partly due to their experience that China is a cunning nation who rip benefits (financially and strategically) at the expense of others.
• Track and monitor Chinese nationals living abroad for any negative criticisms of China, especially through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WeChat. Action: Cross border warning and threat to the person via their China relatives or direct contact via WeChat app. [e.g. Canada]
• Set up in overseas countries disguised Chinese community associations (e.g. student, professional, cultural, diasporas, ... ) with funding and support of the United Front (controlled by the Chinese Communist Party) and sometimes with the coordination of local Chinese consular officials. Action: Identify, recruit and organise ethnic Chinese descents to protest, spy, harass and confront people critical of China's events and actions (e.g. Uyghur camps) [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Foreign influence via espionage and interference to get overseas countries' leaders and politicians to make concessions in negotiations, policies, trade, investments, and procurement with China. Action: Make use of donations, bribery, contributions to fundraising, lobbying, and expenses-paid trips & travels, effusive flatteries etc to entice targeted subjects to leak classified information or switch to pro-China position. [e.g. Canada, Australia, Italy]
• Ban imports of overseas countries as a means of retaliation to whatever criticisms, policies, actions or reactions made which China is not happy with. Action: Make "inventing excuses" to penalize the target countries to suffer in export trade. [e.g. Canada, Australia, Denmark, Czech]
• Halt the overseas countries income in certain industries. Action: Ban China travel tours, block concerts & games from overseas countries to China. [e.g. Korea, US]
• Acquire ownership, operation or access rights in infrastructures, sea & maritime facilities in overseas countries. Action: Take advantage of the economic vulnerability of the target countries by direct investment or substitute as a country's debt payment. [e.g. Australia, Greece]
• Influence overseas countries to bend on policies or court cases that China regards as unfavourable. Action: Detain targeted country's citizens (natural born or ethnic Chinese descent) living or visiting China accused of crime without any proof and use them as hostages to bargain for China's requests. [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Economic integration of overseas countries with China in order to develop their export reliant on the Chinese market such that it will be difficult for them to de-couple without second thought to the economic impact before being critical to China, including its internal or foreign policy to China, else they will face import suspension or high tariff by China. Action: Identify those goods that need to be imported to China and pick targeted countries to lock down their trade dependency economically. This also includes taking lead or participate in Asia-Pacific region trade partnerships (e.g. RCEP, CPTPP) in order to gain more economic integration with targeted countries. [e.g. Canada, Australia]
• Align foreign countries to the Belt and Road Initiative (BPI) for the new Silk Road, part of China's foreign policy. Action: Sign up projects and trade agreements related to BPI that serves China in multiple purposes, including export of its over supply in material (e.g. steel) and man power (e.g. engineers); overseas lending to BPI targeted countries that may end up as their "debt trap" which China will acquire the property, operation & access rights, natural resources etc as payment to the debt ... in particular those related to infrastructure, ports, transport, energy. In other cases, the boosting of bilateral trade volume for BRI can cohere political cooperation and treaties out of economic interests. [e.g. Italy, Greece, Sri Lanka, Turkey]
• Direct foreign investments to countries that need financial relief to boost their economy. Action: Direct investments and trade agreements to help the targeted countries, which increase mutual political trust and cooperation. Hence, gained these countries to vote in international organizations (e.g. UN, EU) to stand with China's position. On the other hand, Chinese goods are able to be imported to these countries to dominate and overrun the local small businesses. [e.g. Italy, Greece]
• Political alignment with states that hold parallel authoritarian power, international complementary interest, and opposition to American hegemony. Action: Bilateral trade and direct investments for mutual benefits and economical needs (e.g. oil & gas); "friendly" treaty for geopolitical cooperation; [e.g. Russia]
It is also important to note that these methods deployed in the targeted countries through high-level state leaders or officials, are not necessary agreed or accepted from the perspective of ground-level citizens and local businesses, partly due to their experience that China is a cunning nation who rip benefits (financially and strategically) at the expense of others.
March 30, 2022
This was a fascinating introduction to China's current situation in geo-political attitudes and actions. I particularly appreciated her inclusion of the middle-powers (especially Canada) instead of the American-centred approach most basic international relations books. I think this was a really great introductory book.
I would like to have had perhaps a little more on the possible repercussions of the New Silk Road- for instance a travel blogger I follow was recently in Africa (I believe Congo) and found out about a Belt & Road infrastructure project there. In exchange for China's investments they had been given unprecedented access to natural resource extraction.
I read Darren Byler's book In the Camps and Chiu's coverage of the Uighur Camps was comparatively rather mild and doesn't come close to the full level of atrocities taking place. She largely focuses on one woman's experience.
I would like to have had perhaps a little more on the possible repercussions of the New Silk Road- for instance a travel blogger I follow was recently in Africa (I believe Congo) and found out about a Belt & Road infrastructure project there. In exchange for China's investments they had been given unprecedented access to natural resource extraction.
I read Darren Byler's book In the Camps and Chiu's coverage of the Uighur Camps was comparatively rather mild and doesn't come close to the full level of atrocities taking place. She largely focuses on one woman's experience.
January 25, 2023
A brilliant and well articulated overview of the CCPs foreign policy and overall ties into the global economy. A highly suggested book for anyone trying to get a better understanding of China's influence in the western world
Read
August 17, 2025Excellent, comprehensive, and insightful. I've already recommended it to others. This book goes a long way towards clarifying and "nuancing" global power dynamics today.
March 29, 2022
This is an essential book on China. Chiu weaves in her own personal experience masterfully, and her exceptional on-the-ground reporting explains the state of affairs in China with clarity and intelligence, providing the reader with just enough historical context to understand the complexities of life in the PRC. Her interviews with various experts, citizens, and members of the Chinese diaspora are fascinating, and offer a disturbing peek inside the censorship and surveillance apparatus of the party. Her insights into the mind of Xi were extremely helpful in understanding what China is today and where it is heading. This is the best, most comprehensive book on China I've read in ages. It takes a remarkable writer to unravel China in a way that is accessible to all readers, and Chiu is exactly that writer. I'd give it six stars if I could!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews