MELBOURNE -- Last November, Clive Hamilton, one of Australia's most prominent public intellectuals, was in the final stages of preparing to publish his latest book when he received an email from his publisher.
The book, an investigation into the Chinese Communist Party's interference in Australian politics and public life, would not be going ahead as planned. Allen & Unwin's chief executive was concerned about the high risk of a "vexatious defamation" suit or other retaliation from Beijing and its sympathizers in Australia.
