Australian Furor Over Chinese Influence Follows Book’s Delay
Mr. Hamilton said that The book shows in great detail the problem of Chinese influence in Australia is much deeper than we thought,
National Security College said that The decision by Allen & Unwin to stall publication of this book almost proves the point
that there’s an undue level of Chinese influence in Australia,
James Leibold, a professor of politics and Asian studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, said the decision to withhold such a book,
especially one written by a noted author like Mr. Hamilton, underscored China’s growing ability to pressure publishers and other media companies.
Mr. Hamilton said the publisher was probably referring to two defamation cases
that are currently in the courts aimed at two Australian media companies: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a major television company, and Fairfax Media, a newspaper publisher.
s to the book and the company from possible action by Beijing." "Our lawyer pointed to recent legal attacks by Beijing’s agents of influence against mainstream Australian media organizations," the email said.
that April 2018 was too soon to publish the book and allow us to adequately guard against potential threat
The decision this month to delay the book, "Silent Invasion: How China Is Turning Australia into a Puppet State," has set off a national uproar, highlighting the tensions between Australia’s growing economic dependence on China
and its fears of falling under the political control of the rising Asian superpower.
