The Chinese Phantom

‘The book is an accomplished piece of investigative journalism that sheds light on the inner workings of the global arms trade. The subject is urgent and timely.’

* The Economist *

‘A thrilling and globe-spanning account of the search for the world’s most wanted man. The authors delve into the murky worlds of arms smuggling, sanctions-busting, and espionage. In their hunt for the Chinese phantom, they encounter suspicious police, atomic experts, and former spies, as well as a perplexing wall of silence from the Israeli and US governments. The book delves into international rivalries, and explores a shifting game of realpolitik featuring Beijing and Washington, Tehran and Moscow, London and Munich. Lucid, compelling, and vividly written.’

– Luke Harding, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Invasion

‘This gripping piece of investigative journalism follows its authors’ attempts to uncover the truth about one of the world’s most dangerous men and his involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile programme … The Chinese Phantom invokes a parallel world of deceit and lies … This is a thrilling and eloquent read which will appeal to a wide audience.’

– New Books in German

‘A fast-moving account about people and events which one day could rapidly lead to an even more dangerous world.’

– Stuart Parkes, NBG Reader

Christoph Giesen is the China correspondent of the German magazine Der Spiegel.

Philipp Grüll is a weapons expert and editor at Germany’s leading public broadcaster ARD.

Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer won the Pulitzer Prize for their ground-breaking reporting on the Panama Papers.

Translator Simon Pare studied French and German at the University of Cambridge. His previous translations include The Panama Papers by Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer. He lives in Switzerland.