China's Spies

China Hands offers a personal and historical account of American involvement in Asia, particularly in China, through the eyes of James Lilley, a CIA veteran and diplomat. The book spans multiple generations of Lilley's family, providing insights into espionage, diplomacy, and the evolution of U.S.-China relations.

This book examines China's vast and unique system of foreign technology spotting and transfer, which has significantly contributed to its rapid rise as a superpower. It details both legal and illicit methods used by China to acquire technology, highlighting the effectiveness of its hybrid approach. The book provides insights into China's military and economic development, as well as its implications for global technology flows.

The book narrates the extraordinary story of Adolf Tolkachev, a Soviet engineer who, from 1977 to 1985, supplied the CIA with a vast amount of top-secret data on the USSR’s military capabilities. Tolkachev, working in a top-secret design laboratory, risked his life to provide information on Soviet radar, aircraft, and weapons technology. The CIA valued his intel at billions of dollars, making him the agency's most valuable Soviet asset. The book details the intricate and dangerous operations involved in handling Tolkachev, including clandestine meetings, dead-drops, and the bureaucratic challenges faced by the CIA. Hoffman's meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring to life the high-stakes espionage and the personal motivations of Tolkachev, as well as the broader geopolitical implications of his actions[1][4][The Bookish Elf, Goodreads].

This book provides an in-depth look at the history and current state of Chinese Communist intelligence operations, using hundreds of Chinese sources to profile key leaders, spies, and operations. It explores the evolution of China's espionage apparatus and its influence both domestically and internationally. The authors offer insights into the organizational structure and methods of Chinese intelligence services, highlighting their strategic importance and impact on global affairs.

Red Star Over China is a historical account written by Edgar Snow after he spent four months with the Chinese Communist leaders in 1936. The book provides the first authorized account of Mao Zedong's life, a history of the famous Long March, and insights into the men and women responsible for the Chinese revolution. It includes extensive notes on military and political developments in China, further interviews with Mao, a chronology covering 125 years of Chinese revolution, and detailed biographies of key figures. The book is significant for its unique perspective on the early years of Chinese communism and its prophetic insights into the future of the movement.