One sentence summary:
“Red-Handed by Peter Schweizer reveals the intertwining relationships and corrupt practices of American elites and Chinese government officials, highlighting how they amass vast wealth by trading American secrets and technology with China.”
Book genre:
Non-fiction, political satire, investigative journalism.
Main topic of the book:
The book delves into the controversial practice of American elites and politicians making business deals with China that undermine American interests, compromising national security and contributing to the loss of American jobs and technology.
Key ideas:
- The book exposes the corrupt practices of American elites who have become incredibly wealthy by aiding China in bypassing American laws and regulations.
- It delves into the complex network of relationships between the American elite and Chinese government officials, showcasing how they use their connections for personal gain.
- The book highlights how the Chinese government has been using its economic power to buy American secrets and technology, giving them a competitive advantage.
- It discusses how these actions are not only detrimental to American interests, but also contribute to the loss of American jobs and the transfer of technology to China.
- The book argues that the American government and its institutions have failed to properly regulate these corrupt practices, leading to the exploitation of America’s resources and undermining its global position.
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
Part One: The Betrayal
This section introduces the reader to the corrupt practices of American elites who have been aiding China in bypassing American laws and regulations for personal gain, at the cost of national security.
Part Two: The Sell-Out of American Technology
Here, the book delves into the ways in which China has been acquiring advanced technology from the US through illicit means, leading to the loss of American jobs and technological superiority.
Part Three: The Military Connection
The book explores how the Chinese government has been exploiting its economic power to acquire sensitive American military technology, compromising national security and weakening the US military’s capabilities.
Part Four: The Political Profiteers
This section discusses how prominent American politicians have made lucrative business deals with China, disregarding the interests of their country and its citizens.
Part Five: Trade Deals and Dirty Deals
The book examines the flaws in the American trade relationship with China, which has allowed the Chinese government to manipulate the US market and exploit its resources.
Key takeaways:
- The corrupt practices of American elites and politicians in aiding China has harmful consequences for America’s national security and economic well-being.
- The Chinese government’s exploitation of their economic power for acquiring American technology and secrets is contributing to the loss of American jobs and weakening the US military.
- The American government needs to regulate and address these issues to prevent further damage to the nation’s interests.
Author’s background and qualifications:
Peter Schweizer is an American author and political consultant who has written several books on government corruption and political cronyism. He is also the co-founder and president of the Government Accountability Institute, a non-profit organization that investigates corruption and crony capitalism.
Target audience:
This book is primarily intended for readers interested in politics, government corruption, and US-China relations. It will appeal to those seeking to understand the behind-the-scenes deals made by American elites and the impact of China’s economic power on the US.
Publisher and first publication date:
Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win was published by HarperCollins on September 20, 2020.