China Unbound: A New World Disorder

By Joanna Chiu

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hurst Publishers
• Release date: Nov 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781787387522

Joanna Chiu

JOANNA CHIU is an internationally recognized authority on China, whose work has appeared in the Guardian, Foreign Policy, BBC World, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Quartz, Al Jazeera, GlobalPost, CBC, and NPR. For seven years she was based in China as a foreign correspondent, reporting for top news agencies such as Agence France Presse (AFP) and Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), and in Hong Kong, she reported for the South China Morning Post, The Economist, and Associated Press (AP). In 2012 her story on refugees in Hong Kong won a Human Rights Press Award, and in 2018 her report on #MeToo cases in Asia was named one of the best Foreign Policy long-form stories. She is the founder and chair of the NüVoices editorial collective, which celebrates the creative and academic work of women working on the subject of China. She is currently a senior journalist covering China-related topicsfor the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper, and has previously served as bureau chief of the Star Vancouver. She speaks frequently at major events and conferences.

Reviews for China Unbound

[fionaanne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book needed a better editor; journalism skills don't necessarily confer book writing ability.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ABOUT THE BOOK: 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 the multi-billion-dollar “New Silk Road” global investment project to a growing sway on foreign countries and multilateral institutions through “United Front” efforts. 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. The new world disorder documented in China Unbound lays out the disturbing implications for global stability, prosperity, and civil rights everywhere. MY THOUGHTS: I didn't find any totally new information in this book. I've heard about the struggles of the Uighurs, for example, and of the ways China exerts influence on Canadians of Chinese origin. What was new was the depth and breadth of these types of actions, and that was highly troubling. I am not yet convinced, though, that we will see China emerge dominant in a new world order. First, the debt on their Belt and Road initiative will surely be an economic anchor, especially since Chinese financial markets aren't open; they aren't attractive to foreign investors. Second, China's population is aging. Demographics suggest that India will emerge as a stronger power than China. The book left me thinking about Canada's role in all of this. This country has been ambiguous about issues such as the independence of Taiwan and other issues. We may be forced to take a stronger position. Global warming increases the economic importance of the Arctic region, so Canada may face a direct challenge from China there. It may be time that our position regarding China reflect more of Canada's interests than of Canada's values. But where is the right balance? I don't know and I suspect finding it would require constant vigilance and adjustment.This is an awareness raising book. The author's familiarity with China is evident. A good, and important, read.