The Digital Silk Road offers an urgent and insightful examination of China's ambitious efforts to reshape global digital infrastructure. Jonathan E. Hillman, a senior fellow for geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations, delves into China's expansive initiatives, from laying fiber-optic cables beneath the ocean to deploying satellites in space, all aimed at establishing a digital network that positions Beijing at its core. Through on-the-ground reporting in regions like rural America, Africa's megacities, and China's own surveillance state, Hillman reveals the strategic motivations behind China's technological outreach and the potential consequences for global data flows, communications, and geopolitical power dynamics.

Why Read This Book?

• Comprehensive Analysis: Provides a detailed exploration of China's digital infrastructure projects and their global implications.

• Strategic Insights: Examines the intersection of technology and geopolitics, highlighting the strategic advantages China seeks through digital dominance.

• Global Perspective: Offers perspectives from various regions affected by China's digital expansion, illustrating the widespread impact of these initiatives.

• Timely Relevance: Addresses current debates on digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the future of global internet governance.

About the Author

Jonathan E. Hillman is a senior fellow for geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has served as a senior advisor to three U.S. cabinet officials, including the Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade Representative. Hillman is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Brown University and has written for prominent publications such as the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. He is also the author of The Emperor’s New Road: China and the Project of the Century.