The Fire of the Dragon
China's New Cold War
Published on 4. August 2022
368 pages
978-1-78885-514-3 (ISBN)
Description
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize
As seen in The Times, Sunday Times, Spectator, and on Tonight with Andrew Marr (LBC)
Under President Xi Jinping, China's global ambitions have taken a dangerous new turn. Bullying and intimidation have replaced diplomacy. Trade and investment, even big-spending tourists and students, have been weaponised. Beijing has strengthened its alliance with Vladimir Putin, supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and brooks no criticism of its own flagrant human rights violations against the Uyghur population in western China.
Leaders in the West say they don't want a cold war with China, but it's a little late for that. Beijing is already waging a more complex, broader and more dangerous cold war than the old one with the Soviet Union. And it is intensifying.
This thought-provoking and alarming book examines this new cold war's many fronts - from Taiwan and the South China Sea to the Indian frontier, the Arctic and cyberspace. In doing so it proclaims the clear and sobering message that we must open our eyes to the reality of China's rise and its ruthless bid for global dominance.
As seen in The Times, Sunday Times, Spectator, and on Tonight with Andrew Marr (LBC)
Under President Xi Jinping, China's global ambitions have taken a dangerous new turn. Bullying and intimidation have replaced diplomacy. Trade and investment, even big-spending tourists and students, have been weaponised. Beijing has strengthened its alliance with Vladimir Putin, supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and brooks no criticism of its own flagrant human rights violations against the Uyghur population in western China.
Leaders in the West say they don't want a cold war with China, but it's a little late for that. Beijing is already waging a more complex, broader and more dangerous cold war than the old one with the Soviet Union. And it is intensifying.
This thought-provoking and alarming book examines this new cold war's many fronts - from Taiwan and the South China Sea to the Indian frontier, the Arctic and cyberspace. In doing so it proclaims the clear and sobering message that we must open our eyes to the reality of China's rise and its ruthless bid for global dominance.
Reviews / Votes
'This well respected journalist lays out a compelling case for why successive policies towards China have been unhelpful and how we are all going to be affected more dramatically by issues emanating from the country' -- Martha Lane Fox * Times * 'Absolutely fascinating' -- Andrew Marr (LBC) 'An essential read for anybody who wants to understand the foreign policy of modern-day China, and in particular the role and goals of China's leader Xi Jinping ... A fascinating book, a really good read' -- Phil Harding, journalist and broadcaster 'In this fascinating new book the former foreign correspondent, who's covered China for Channel 4 and NBC News, asserts that the West is already engaged in a new Cold War with Xi Jinping's regime...A fascinating, accessible guide to our new geopolitical reality' -- James Wilson * Tortoise Media * '[A] superb book... I recommend it very highly' -- Benedict Rogers, chief executive of Hong Kong Watch 'a wide-ranging, meticulous study (with) detailed scholarship and depth of deduction and contemplation' * St Andrews in Focus * 'The most important book I've read this year... Eye opening' -- Matt Ridley, author of Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19 'Really, really good, a fascinating book to read. So if you are thinking of buying something for someone at Christmas, I suggest you find out more about China. Some of it is pretty scary stuff' -- Eamon Dunphy * The Stand with Eamon Dunphy *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Illustrations
8pp colour plates
File size
3,17 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-78885-514-3 (9781788855143)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
08/2022
Birlinn Ltd
€41.07
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Person
Ian Williams was foreign correspondent for Channel 4 News and NBC News, reporting from China over the last 25 years, he has also covered conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East and Ukraine. He won an Emmy and BAFTA awards for his reporting of the Bosnian war. He is currently a doctoral student in the War Studies department at King's College, London, focusing on cyber issues.
Content
- Intro
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Map
- Introduction: China's New Cold War
- 1. The Taiwan Strait: The Most Dangerous Place on Earth
- 2. The South China Sea: The Biggest Territorial Grab Since the Second World War
- 3. Southeast Asia: Paying Tribute to the Emperor
- 4. Brawling on the Roof of the World
- 5. From the Frozen Arctic to the Digital World: The Frontiers of China's New Cold War
- 6. Disinformation, Spying and Sabotage: The Cyber Panda Bears Its Claws
- 7. The Awkward Dance of the Panda and the Bear
- 8. Target Taiwan: The Chinese Anaconda Tightens Its Grip
- 9. The Myth of 'One China': Why Taiwan is an Independent Country
- 10. Why Taiwan Matters
- 11. Chips with Everything: A Taiwanese Lynchpin in the Global Economy
- 12. Japan: Asia's Quiet Achiever Steps Out of the Shadows
- 13. The Muddled China Policy of 'Global Britain'
- 14. Standing up to China: Lessons from Aussie 'Scumbags' and 'Tiny, Crazy' Lithuanians
- 15. Peak China: The Future of the Chinese Communist Party
- Epilogue: The Long Shadow of the Ukraine War
- Notes
- Index
