(2024) The Chinese Phantom by Christoph Giesen, Philipp Grüll, Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer
SAM&PAM's Book Radar · KAO
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Show Notes
"The Chinese Phantom: The Hunt for the World's Most Dangerous Arms Dealer" is a non-fiction investigative journalism book published in 2024.
The book is co-authored by:
- Christoph Giesen, the China correspondent of the German magazine Der Spiegel.
- Philipp Grüll, a weapons expert and editor at Germany’s leading public broadcaster ARD.
- Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer who won the Pulitzer Prize for their ground-breaking reporting on the Panama Papers.
The book tells the story of Karl Lee (Li Fangwei), a Chinese businessman who has been supplying Iran with materials to build ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons for over two decades. Lee has been able to evade the authorities by using a complex network of front companies and aliases.
The authors of the book followed Lee's trail across the globe, from China to Europe and the United States. They interviewed intelligence officials, diplomats, and experts on arms control. They also used the Panama Papers to uncover Lee's financial dealings.
The book provides a detailed account of Lee's activities and the efforts to bring him to justice. It also raises important questions about the role of China in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.