China Unbound: A New World Disorder

Refreshing to read a well-researched book on China that’s NOT from an American viewpoint. Really opened my eyes to how far China’s tentacles reach and much things have changed for the worse under Xi.

This book is excellent. It's a must-read for the China-curious as well as anyone interested in history and world affairs. Ms Chiu has lived and reported from Beijing and Hong Kong. She knows China as well as any journalist. Ms Chiu is very humble but her stories reveal just how brave she really is, risking arrest and torture, lost to her family in the PRC prison system. If you want to understand the mentality of the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping, from a historical perspective, this book will open your eyes to a fascinating but scary potential. Ms Chiu is clearly well-educated and fiercely bright, but her prose is accessible. I'll read it again.

Humanizes the pain brought globally by PRC foreign policy

This is a very well written book that is perfect for anyone interested in China and its relationships with other countries. It is specific and informative without being dry. Not dusty and academic but still accurate and factual.

Author Chiu was born in Hong Kong, and like the young people comprising most of the mobs/riots, had never lived under Communist China control. Those individuals, not surprisingly, were the most likely to become upset over new Chinese rule, and the most physically able to do so. Her account rings true, but it isn't clear how to best make sense of it all. Clearly, China isn't into Free Speech or unfettered access to the World-Wide-Web. On the other hand, China has made far greater/faster modernization progress in its own manner than more liberal nations - the U.S. included; that greater good is used by Chinese leaders to rationalize citizen restrictions.On the other hand, Hong Kong was no economic slouch itself - like China rapidly lifting its standard of living via opportunities to work one's way up via innumerable opportunities available via foreign employment of its low-cost workers.She also expresses seemingly valid concern over Xi Jinping's autocratic and wolf-warrior moves vs. local Pacific waters and Taiwan.Objective evaluations of China's current leadership require an accurate understanding of what the Chinese people believe. Foreign surveys report high levels of citizen satisfaction with China's leadership - and it is far more appropriate for them to be the judges rather than myself or the U.S. Government.Unfortunately, the U.S. has now become a major disruptive force - continually increasing pressures to limit opportunities for the Chinese to earn money, develop top STEM skills for the future. That, of course creates a self-fulfilling prophecy for the U.S. (considerable Chinese citizen disasfaction), as well as placing the CCP into a corner. A corner from which they may come out fighting.

There's a strong tension here between her criticism of CCP policies and her leftist political views, especially toward the end where it became unreadable...Much of the book was the chronicling of interviews, stories and other anecdotes, which I appreciated, but I was hoping for more of a deep dive into CCP history and worldview. For a book of this title, that was relatively sparse, though what is there is very good. The rest of the book was in regards to international relations, country by country with China, which might have simplified her organization, but I think topical would have been a better read.Other thoughts - it does not inform the reader to judge where China is going in the future in its authoritarian ways... but I know thats the hard part...

I read/listen to every book that comes out about China. Joanna Chiu gets some points right about China's atrocities but then she loses all credibility when she quotes Hillary Clinton as some source of hope and inspiration. She quotes and admires several leftist like Obama, John Kerry, Harry Kissinger, and Jimmy Carter but fails to recognize the part they've had in allowing China to rob the West.She falls victim to the CCP's very own propaganda machine by repeating CNN and MSNBC's "Asian Hate" narrative in order to demonize white people and sow division in America but fails to mention the actual group of people committing most Asian hate crimes. Just watch any compilation video of "Asian Hate Crime" attacks and then tell me what ethic group they belong to. Hint: If you mention it you get your comments deleted and labeled as racist.Overall a pretty weak book about China. A waste of money. I'm getting my money back on this one. If you really want an amazing about about China's crimes against humanity pick up "The Perfect Police State" By: Geoffrey Cain. That book brought me to literal tears. I had to take a break and walk around the building when listening to it.

I have just finished Joanna Chiu's superb new book (stayed up very late the past few nights doing so)I read it a) for genuine interest as someone who has lived in & around #China #HongKong for past 30 yrs & b) as background for a book I am writing on China's human rights crisis. I love China and the peoples of China, but detest the increasingly repressive Chinese Communist Party regime and its intensifying repression at home and aggression abroad. Joanna brings out these themes - and the importance of distinguishing between the peoples of China and the Party - so clearly and so well. I agree with pretty much every word, I applaud her work, and I highly recommend this very important book. I especially agree with her - as I've said myself many many many times - on the need to distinguish between #CCP, #China and people of ethnic Chinese descent. There's no excuse for anti-Chinese or anti-Asian racismThere's no excuse for apathy, complicity or kowtowing to #CCP repression. And there's no excuse for confusing the two or using one to justify the other. It is not difficult to do the right thing on both fronts.Speak out and counter #CCP repression and aggression. Stand up against anti-Chinese, anti-Asian racism.We can, should and must do both!Read this book, to understand the difference and work out how to fight anti-Chinese racism and CCP repression at the same time.

This book along with Jonathan Manathorpe's "Claws Of The Panda" should be recommended reading for all Canadians.It’s time we as consumers take a long look at our relationship with China & truly consider that which our choices are financing. We can’t keep pretending like it’s not happening.It documents the legitimate concern we should all have with the political system in China and the very human abuses that are a defining feature of the regime. It also goes into great detail on the influence China is exerting on other nations around the world.Because the author has a close personal relationship with Asia in general & China in particular, this book avoids the xenophobic narrative that unfortunately often finds it's way into conversations regarding the very real concerns over China's behaviour at home & abroad.I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

This was an incredible read from start to finish. The author provides important and well researched/experienced information while pulling in the reader's full attention. It is a gripping read that should be a must for every household. Highly recommend!

Chiu's book is a fantastic place to start if you are interested in China. It lays out the mental framework that you need to have whenever you think of China: the issues around human rights, the long arm of Chinese government influence, and how it can impact marginal communities all around the world.Writing this book must have required a staggering amount of work, with the wide breadth of topics covered and the on-the-ground reporting from around the world in each engaging chapter.China has expelled dozens of journalists due to the escalation in tensions with the US and other Western countries, leaving us woefully under-serviced when it comes to nuanced perspectives on what is actually happening in Chinese cities like Beijing and the countryside. Chiu is among a shrinking group of people with the experience and ability to write this kind of book.

I recieved this book 3 days ago, and couldn't put it down. Eye opening, revealing information on China and how it plays into the world at large. Very enjoyable and recommended. Book good #1!