Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World is a 2022 book written by Alex Joske which alleges that the west has been negligent of expansive Chinese government influence and foreign espionage efforts. It focuses especially on activities by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) in the United States. The book was published by Hardie Grant Books and released October 4, 2022. The book has been influential, and its cover includes the endorsement of Representative Mike Gallagher, who months later became the first leader of the Select Committee on the CCP in the United States Congress. Australian Chair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Charles Edel described the book's method as an "almost forensic" approach to the topic.[1]
 | |
| Author | Alex Joske |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Josh Durham |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Chinese Communist Party, Ministry of State Security, United Front Work Department |
| Genres | Espionage, geopolitics |
| Set in | United States, Canada, Australia and China |
| Publisher | Hardie Grant |
Publication date | October 4, 2022 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 9781743797990 (Paperback) |
| OCLC | 1347020692 |
Reception
editThe book was released to favorable reviews in Foreign Affairs, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.[2][3][4] It has stirred some controversy particularly in its exploration of the MSS' successful cooption of Australian prime minister Bob Hawke to rehabilitate China's image following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ Edel, Charles (12 October 2022). Spies and Lies: How China Fooled the World (Motion picture). Interview with Alex Joske. Quote begins at 12:40.
- ^ Nathan, Andrew J. (1 November 2022). "Book Review: "Spies and Lies" by Alex Joske and "America Second" by Isaac Stone Fish". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Blumenthal, Dan (2 November 2022). "'Spies and Lies' Review: The Myth of the 'Peaceful Rise'". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 1042-9840. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Joshi, Shashank (21 December 2022). "What to read to understand intelligence and espionage". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "How China spies 'signed up Bob Hawke'". The Australian. 1 October 2022.
- ^ Basford Canales, Sarah (4 October 2022). "Bob Hawke was 'unwittingly' signed up by Chinese spies. It could happen again". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.