Discourse power 'with Chinese characteristics'

Book review of Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World

Clive Hamilton gained prominence as the author of Silent Invasion,which investigated in careful detail the insidious manner in which China had managed to penetrate the government, political parties and civil society of Australia through a mix of blandishments, blackmail and open threats. It was a lesson in how the vulnerabilities of an open and democratic society can be exploited for political subversion. Mr Hamilton has now joined Mareike Ohlberg of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute to produce a comprehensive survey of how the Communist Party of China (CCP) operates a sophisticated and variegated tool-kit to engage in a well-orchestrated and increasingly