China's Silent Army

This book stems from the remarkable, determined work of two China-based journalists. Frustrated by the facile, pro-business commentary of so much writing on China and the evasions of Beijing's official pronouncements, they took a drastic decision: to see for themselves just how rapidly China is spreading its influence around the world.

Many thousands of miles and twenty-five countries later, China's Silent Army is the result: an unprecedented attempt to meet the many Chinese who, through hard work, ingenuity and ruthless business practices are rapidly moving much of the world into Beijing's orbit - from Peruvian mines to Siberian forests, from Sudanese dams to Burmese jade mines. The implications of what they are doing - politically, ecologically and economically - are profoundly disturbing.

Translated by Catherine Mansfield.