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Silent Invasion: China's influence in Australia Paperback – Illustrated, 26 February 2018

by Clive Hamilton (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 618
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In 2008 Clive Hamilton was at Parliament House in Canberra when the Beijing Olympic torch relay passed through. He watched in bewilderment as a small pro-Tibet protest was overrun by thousands of angry Chinese students. Where did they come from? Why were they so aggressive? And what gave them the right to shut down others exercising their democratic right to protest? The authorities did nothing about it, and what he saw stayed with him.
 
In 2016 it was revealed that wealthy Chinese businessmen linked to the Chinese Communist Party had become the largest donors to both major political parties. Hamilton realised something big was happening, and decided to investigate the Chinese government’s influence in Australia. What he found shocked him.
 
From politics to culture, real estate to agriculture, universities to unions, and even in our primary schools, he uncovered compelling evidence of the Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration of Australia. Sophisticated influence operations target Australia’s elites, and parts of the large Chinese-Australian diaspora have been mobilised to buy access to politicians, limit academic freedom, intimidate critics, collect information for Chinese intelligence agencies, and protest in the streets against Australian government policy. It’s no exaggeration to say the Chinese Communist Party and Australian democracy are on a collision course. The CCP is determined to win, while Australia looks the other way.
 
Thoroughly researched and powerfully argued, Silent Invasionis a sobering examination of the mounting threats to democratic freedoms Australians have for too long taken for granted. Yes, China is important to our economic prosperity; but, Hamilton asks, how much is our sovereignty as a nation worth?

‘Anyone keen to understand how China draws other countries into its sphere of influence should start with Silent Invasion. This is an important book for the future of Australia. But tug on the threads of China’s influence networks in Australia and its global network of influence operations starts to unravel.’ –Professor John Fitzgerald, author of Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia
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  1. Print length
    376 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hardie Grant Books
  4. Publication date
    26 February 2018
  5. Dimensions
    15.75 x 3.43 x 23.62 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1743794800
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1743794807
  8. See all details
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Review

‘Anyone keen to understand how China draws other countries into its sphere of influence should start with Silent Invasion. This is an important book for the future of Australia. But tug on the threads of China’s influence networks in Australia and its global network of influence operations starts to unravel.’ –Professor John Fitzgerald, author of Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia

About the Author

Clive Hamilton is an Australian author and academic. His influential books include Silent Invasion, Growth Fetish, Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth About Climate Change and Defiant Earth: The Fate of Humans in the Anthropocene. For fourteen years he was the executive director of The Australia Institute, a think tank he founded. A professor at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, he has held visiting academic positions at the University of Oxford, Yale University and Sciences Po. His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The Guardian, The New York Times, Times Higher Education Supplement, Nature and Scientific American.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hardie Grant Books; Illustrated edition (26 February 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1743794800
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1743794807
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.75 x 3.43 x 23.62 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 618

About the author

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Clive Hamilton

Clive Hamilton

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Clive Hamilton is an Australian author and public intellectual. For 14 years, until February 2008, he was the Executive Director of The Australia Institute, a progressive think tank he founded. He is now Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra.

He has published on a wide range of subjects but is best known for his books, a number of which have been best-sellers. They include Growth Fetish (2003), Affluenza (with Richard Denniss, 2005), Requiem for a Species: Why we resist the truth about climate change, (2010), Earthmasters (2013), What Do We Want? The story of protest in Australia (2016) and Defiant Earth: The fate of humans in the Anthropocene (2017).

In 2018, his controversial and influential best-seller, Silent Invasion: China's influence in Australia, was published by Hardie Grant. A follow-up book, written with Mareike Ohlberg, Hidden Hand: How the Chinese Communist Party is reshaping the world, was published by Hardie Grant and Oneworld in 2020. It was an instant best-seller.

His memoir, Provocateur: A life of ideas in action, will be published in September 2022.

Clive has held visiting academic positions at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, University College London and Sciences Po in Paris.

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Top reviews from Australia

John c
5.0 out of 5 stars China is the enemy within
Reviewed in Australia on 18 June 2021
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Clive Hamilton has collated in a systematic and user friendly manner an incredible number of seemingly disparate facts and pointed out that these are all related to the infiltration of the Chinese Communist Party into the very fabric of Australian political social cultural and educational life.

The source materials are well documented in the many citations.

The book sounds an important warning for all Australians concerned about preserving cherished and long standing values such as of freedom of speech, democracy , individual freedoms, & a way of life free of political interference .

A must read for all Australians concerned with protecting their way of life
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5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this
Reviewed in Australia on 4 September 2020
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The research in this book is incredible - in fact I found it difficult to take in the amount of information this book contans - it's full of chinese names that mean nothing to me, dates, people, events, departments ... etc. But what it did do for me is alert me to how the CCP pretty much has been at war, (and not just with Australia), and how Australian politicians, instead of looking after Australia have pretty much sold it out. Add that information to relatively recent news reports and it all sort of makes sense.

This book succeeds in imparting it's message.

IMO everyone should read this book.
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Benjamin Mockler
4.0 out of 5 stars A wake-up call to Australia and the world
Reviewed in Australia on 5 July 2021
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TBH, I thought at times the author relied more on suggestion rather than iron-clad evidence, and I can imagine that some of those named might feel unfairly maligned. But even if only half those fingered have acted against Australian interests, then that needs to be forcefully combatted.
It's scary what China has become.
The sequel to this book will be interesting: How, after spending billions on it's soft-power push around the world, China spat the dummy and undermined it's own pitch, attacking anyone and everyone. Many of China's agents and influencers must be in despair - not that they would dare to admit to their own goal - Pooh Xi wouldn't like that.
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Kenneth John Conway
5.0 out of 5 stars Asleep at the wheel or corrupt?
Reviewed in Australia on 21 July 2020
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This is a book that should be compulsory reading for all our politicians and university staff. Our universities were screwed for funding by the Liberal Party when they got onto power and were told to find the money elsewhere. Our politicians both Labour and Liberal have got onto the Chinese Communist Party gravy train and are selling us down the creek to get reelected or to get a job after politics.

It has to stop. I think the corona virus has come at the right time to make the country sit up and take a look.
4 people found this helpful
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Cheryl Archer
5.0 out of 5 stars Scary truth
Reviewed in Australia on 22 February 2019
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This book is a "must read" for those who are not aware of the insidious nature of China's business and political dealings in Australia, and the rest of the world. It is truly "jaw dropping" to read the extent of it, and to what level the Chinese Communist Party will go to further their agenda. To realise just how gullible some of our politicians are, at local Council, State and Federal levels, is frightening. Whether it is just their naivety, or worse the degree of corruption they will stoop to is a wake-up call for all Australians who dearly love their country.
A very well written and heavily researched book.
10 people found this helpful
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Brett M
5.0 out of 5 stars An very important and timely book
Reviewed in Australia on 24 May 2018
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This is an incredibly important book that every Australians should read. It documents how gaining control over Australia is a key part of the Chinese Communist Party's Strategy for regional domination, and explains the methodical way they are going about gaining this control.

Up until now the sporadic articles we hear about Chinese influence peddling in this country, and the money flowing into political coffers has been disconcerting, but after understanding the full picture as painted my Mr. Hamilton, it is truly frightening.

The Chinese infiltration of Australia is the biggest and most significant threat we have faced since WWII. Read this book and you will understand why.
23 people found this helpful
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Z∞
5.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's Detailed View of the Campaign Against Australia
Reviewed in Australia on 4 May 2021
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Clive Hamilton provides exceptionally detailed references and examples of the penetration of Australia's academic institutions, political parties and machinery and strategic and tactical assets over a long and highy focused campaign to compromise all our most valuable IP, defences and relationships.
A must read against which to assess what is now increasingly urgent daily news.
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hoodle
5.0 out of 5 stars I was shocked at how easy our politicians have sold out to the CCP for donations or consulting gigs.
Reviewed in Australia on 9 August 2020
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Well researched and referenced, this should be the basis for a Royal Commission. The CCP has infiltrated all political parties at Federal, State and Local levels. While we currently live in a sovereign nation, this may not be the reality for my children. The CCP has only one ambition, to rule the world and our politicians are rolling over for 40 pieces of silver.
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James C
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opener
Reviewed in Canada on 4 November 2021
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I spent 15 years in China so this book by Prof. Hamilton was of particular interest to me. It's quite riveting and explains clearly how Australia [and other countries] are being infiltrated at many levels by the CCP. It's well researched and very relevant given the circumstances we find ourselves in these days.
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Tesh
5.0 out of 5 stars The western world truly needs to wake up, adapt, stop being complacement and protect itself!
Reviewed in Germany on 2 September 2021
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This book is a very well articulated and is full of good examples of the current secret conflict being waged by china on a naive and sleeping world. Albeit only a fraction of what there is to discover on the global stage, if one cares to investigate a little.
This is needed a wake up call, CCP-China has only been strengthened by western greed and complacency. If we keep feeding the beast, it will just grow bigger teeth to maul its weaker neighbors with....
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Alain FELER
4.0 out of 5 stars Un livre pour penser par soi-même
Reviewed in France on 15 January 2021
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Le livre de Clive Hamilton est un "cours de rattrapage" sur l'influence et la corruption, sans pathos, sans complotisme, sans didactisme, basé sur l'accumulation d'informations toutes sourcées.
Il s'applique aux relations entre la Chine et l'Australie (que la Chine considère être dans sa zone d'influence directe) et comme tel peut paraitre lointain au lecteur français, mais les ambitions de leadership mondial de la Chine au 21ème siècle lui donnent un premier intérêt évident, puisque l'avion existe et que pour la Chine, la France ou l'Australie sont deux petites choses.
Mais ce livre présente aussi d'autres attraits.
D'abord le fait qu'il s'agisse d'un philosophe australien qui écrive, et sans aucun recours au vocabulaire philosophique comme arme d'intimidation, est très raffraichissant, et presque en soi-même une leçon de démocratie venant du pays où les clients des taxis sont censés monter à côté du chauffeur, pas derrière.
Ensuite, dans un pays comme la France, où le terme de complotisme est sans cesse utilisé comme arme de disqualification de l'adversaire, cette enquête factuelle, obstinée, pondérée, sur un travail indiscutable et pas forcément répréhensible de la Chine pour augmenter son influence partout où ses intérêts l'exigent, et avec des
méthodes sans cesse adaptées aux lieux et aux circonstances force l'admiration, et ne peut que susciter une demande pour un traitement aussi peu paresseux de nos propres problèmes internes ou externes. Par exemple, où lirions-nous en France un simple membre de phrase comme "des gens à qui le ministre des finances ou le premier ministre [ou le président] répondent s'ils les appellent" (p 135) ?
Bref un livre de prime abord un peu rébarbatif avec tous ces noms chinois ou australiens de parfaits inconnus, ces institutions étranges aux acronymes pénibles, ces détails sans fin de repas, de voyages, de dons, de campagnes électorales dans des banlieues de Sydney, mais en fait une lecture facile, dépaysante, et surtout salubre et éclairante, soulevant des questions qu'il est indispensable de poser, par rapport à toutes les puissances qui s'exercent sur nous, influences étrangères, GAFA, lobbies, système technicien et autres agents intelligents et tous "amis qui nous veulent du bien" ... et quelques éléments de réponse.
---
2 remarques :
- le 11/12/2018 le commentaire d'Adrian (1 étoile) dit que le livre commence par une affirmation fausse : "des dizaines de milliers d'étudiants chinois" serait à la fois faux et impossible, et Adrian dit qu'il y était. Pourtant il y a sur internet un article Reuters du 24 avril 2008 qui commence ainsi "More than 10,000 Chinese Australians staged the biggest pro-Beijing rally" etc. Il est vrai que la photo ne montre que quelques centaines de personnes, mais elle est prise presque à hauteur d'homme. Adrian dit aussi que la pelouse est trop petite. Sur Google Earth on voit que la pelouse immédiatement devant fait 11000m², mais il y en a d'autres autour... Mais puisque Adrian y était...
- j'ai traduit le bouquin en français, mais pas encore trouvé d'éditeur. Dommage, car il est fort intéressant.
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Philip M
5.0 out of 5 stars Westerners must take note of what China has been doing in Australia before its too late!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2020
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Silent Invasion describes China’s insidious and relentless infiltration of Australia’s politics, culture, real estate, agriculture, utilities, universities, unions and even schools. Anyone concerned about China’s growing influence, power and control in the West must read this book! What has, and still is, happening in Australia is already well established in the West – and we should take notice of this powerful and thoroughly researched book before it’s too late.

Silent Invasion demonstrates how China deploys subtle means, often threatening, to undermine Australia’s political, academic and institutional independence and free-thinking. And Professor Hamilton cites numerous examples of bribery, naivety and self-interest throughout Australia’s political and academic elite unwittingly aiding the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy of extending Chinese culture and policies throughout the country.

The underlying message of Silent Invasion is that the Chinese Communist Party is a Leninist party state, with an organised philosophy of propaganda to undermine anything opposed to it, both at home and abroad. It makes promises (and tells lies) that can be discarded when convenient, so anything it says can be taken at face value. And the CCP requires all Chinese living abroad to be PRC citizens first and foremost and so act as agents for the Chinese Communist Party.
12 people found this helpful
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Juan Valverde
5.0 out of 5 stars the referencing is impeccable and the interpretations pretty objective. However
Reviewed in the United States on 3 March 2018
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Thank you sir for your scholarly analysis and academic courage.
I did find the book a bit repetitive at times which made me think that it was written as a collection of articles over some time rather than as a standalone piece. But the facts stand to scrutiny, the referencing is impeccable and the interpretations pretty objective.
However, I do not share though the Author's anxieties regarding the imperialistic and belligerent attitudes of the modern China. The pre-requisite for a nation to become a world super-power, especially through 'silent' tactics is to be able to export its language and culture. Lately there have been some significant investments into the movie industry, media etc. by PCC affiliated companies but is that really going to make a great deal of a difference? The problem with these Chinese dreams of post-modern colonialism is that:
- Globalization has made sure that even the most remote and vulnerable nations (see Africa) are in a much better position to resist passively to undue influences
- China has NO FRIENDS. A handful of smarmy ex-politicians or nerdy academics don't count. they're employees or mercenaries. Simply there aren't any nations/tribes that share deep historical tribal or cultural affiliations with China.
- the technological advancements available to most nations allow for very some destructive asymmetrical warfare and making an open serious military conflict that is required for territorial invasion extremely risky
- and most importantly, millennia of geographical and cultural isolation has produced a highly specialized, homogeneous culture which has such little appeal to the outside world. The otherwise great Chinese cultural exports of work ethics and resilience have little appeal to an increasingly hedonistic and entitled Westernized society. If anything the Chinese society is much more vulnerable to the Western influence.

However, I can see how in a 'Black Swan' event of severe Global crisis (ie climate change, asteroid hit, pandemic) the Chinese may find themselves in an unique advantageous position to send significant humanitarian aid to beleaguered nations and easily establish a physical "friendly" military presence in countries otherwise out of reach.
25 people found this helpful
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