China First

Theo Sommer takes a look behind the scenes of Chinese expansion following an ambitious master plan. The Silk Road project represents important trade routes between Asia, Africa and Europe under Chinese control. Investments in European and especially German companies are also being made. In foreign policy China is becoming more and more prominent, in Asia also in terms of military. The new strong man, Xi Jinping, secured a power base not even Mao had. He perfects the surveillance state with a "social credit system" reminiscent of Orwell, and in Xinjiang province even with re-education camps. In Hong Kong, too, human rights and civil liberties are under threat. Anyone who has read Theo Sommer's lucid book full of surprising facts and connections will see China and the West with different eyes.