The New Emperors: Power and the Princelings in China.

• Jurisdiction: New Zealand
• Date: 01 May 2015
• Author: Smith, Anthony

THE NEW EMPERORS: Power and the Princelings in China

Author: Kerry Brown

Published by: I.B. Tauris, London, 2014, 244pp, 20 [pounds sterling].

This interesting book begins with the wholly remarkable 2011 story of Gu Kailai, the wife of Bo Xilai, party secretary of Chongqing and then rising political star in China. Gu was convicted of the murder of Neil Haywood, a British businessman. She would later claim that Haywood had threatened the safety of her child. Gu Kailai is alleged to have met Haywood in a hotel room, poisoned his drink with cyanide, left him ailing in his room and instructed the hotel staff not to enter his room. Haywood's body was not discovered until days later. Bo Xilai also faced his own serious accusations of corruption. Whatever the facts of the matter are, Bo very quickly found his career was over when it had once looked like he was destined for higher honours.

It is an instructive thought experiment to consider what the New Zealand public knows about the leadership of our largest trading partner. People are likely aware of Xi Jinping as China's president, but would likely struggle to name the premier (Li Keqiang)...