All That Glistens

In the 2010s, as China slid deeper into authoritarianism and the UK veered towards political uncertainty, the two countries declared a 'Golden Era' of relations--a move that challenged the established international order. This development came about amid rising global concern around Chinese party-state interference abroad, to the disquiet of Britain's allies. In 'All That Glistens', Martin Thorley peels away the shiny exterior of the Sino-British 'golden age' to reveal a relationship built on Chinese government influence over the UK's affairs, British corruption, and global capitalism. Drawing on his years on the ground in Beijing, as well as investigative research using open-source intelligence, Thorley's timely book sheds light on a murky aspect of international relations. He reveals coordinated Chinese state actions that reach into the heart of Parliament, and the widespread compromise of British politics by Chinese commercial entities, particularly in the nuclear energy, property and currency-trading sectors. Readers are taken into the opaque world behind the photo-ops, handshakes and joint statements when national leaders meet. Here, they learn about the dark matter of contemporary geopolitics: the enigmatic forces and relationships that dictate what is possible.