Seven Things You Can't Say About China

by Tom Cotton

Senator Tom Cotton offers an unflinching look at the deadly threat of Communist China and reveals the truth about America’s most dangerous enemy. “

“As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I’m often asked if the threat from China is as bad as it seems. My answer is no—it’s worse than you can imagine.”

 Seven Things You Can’t Say About China is Tom Cotton’s provocative exposé about the gravest threat to American freedom. The media, Hollywood, academia, Wall Street, and most politicians can’t—or won’t—speak the truth about China. But Senator Cotton will, because America needs to know.

 In this hard-hitting book, he reveals what others refuse to say,

The inside story—drawn from his intelligence and national-security experience and knowledge—on how deeply the Chinese Communist Party has infiltrated America.How China persecutes Christians and commits genocide against religious and ethnic minorities.The alarming rise of China’s armed forces and nuclear arsenal, which will soon rival our own.The danger our children face from China’s influence on Hollywood, the NBA, TikTok, and so much more.How China lied, stole, and cheated its way to wealth while devastating America’s workers and businesses. Seven Things You Can’t Say About China sounds the alarm about Communist China’s carefully crafted plans to defeat America in the coming decade—and what we must do to fight back.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, China, Education, Book Club, Inspirational, How To

208 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

About the author

Thomas Bryant Cotton is an American politician, attorney, and former military officer serving as the junior United States senator for Arkansas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.

Reviews

[Edward S. McChain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really educated me!

This book shed a great deal of light on the huge threat CC P is to the USA and Taiwan. The way they infiltrate all of our institutions is very scary! We should all do what we can to stay clear of Chinese influence.

[Priit Rohumaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written in quite an aggressive tone, focusing heavily on the major concerns and threats related to China. While the author doesn’t necessarily present any factual inaccuracies, the overall tone feels overly bleak—likely influenced by their own personal negative experiences.

The discussions around the genocide of the Tibetan and Uyghur peoples, along with other human rights abuses, are deeply disturbing and rightfully portrayed as a stain not only on China but also on the Western world, which continues to turn a blind eye.

While the subject matter is undeniably serious and important, the book’s one-sided tone can feel overwhelming at times. A more balanced perspective might have made the message even more powerful. Still, it serves as a sobering reminder of the harsh realities behind China’s global rise.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, just wow. Everyone in the US should read this book about China. It could take over the world. Please read it and consider only buying USA products. This is scary!!! It's a very short book. I listened to it on Audible, and it was four hours long.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

He knows what you can’t say in China but doesn’t know which countries are a part of it? He also doesn’t understand how languages or nationalities work. Someone who is so closed minded and lacks the skills to understand basic English shouldn’t be schooling others in foreign policy’s. Read with caution this guy has an agenda that has nothing to do with reality.

[Ellie Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deserves zero stars. Absolutely awful.

[Cathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel embarrassed to have read this awful book and to have it here on my Goodreads. So sensationalist and cringeworthy.

[Lexie Ryder · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://www.change.org/p/require-tom-...

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did my rating disappear 🤔

[Joseph Putnam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read it, and it was really hard to get through, I've never rated a book this low, but most of his points could only be believed my an unintelligent American who doesn't have a basic comprehensive understanding of world politics and U.S propaganda.

I understand that both countries have done awful things like the U.S bombing Guatemala or China debt trapping most African countries for their resources. We have less freedom then we think. Praising the us will do nothing about our issues.

Tom, try and write a book that doesn't bore me to death. Don't read this, if you want to get into politics you need an understanding or the real left and right, and neo-liberalism in America.

[Mike Mullins · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit dry

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can’t understand why anyone would read this. Don’t waste your time. 1 star is generous but I can’t go lower sadly.

[Robb R · Rating 1 out of 5]

1. It’s polemical. There are interesting and useful points about china, but the author doesn’t present it in an objective way.
2. Self aggrandizement. I feel like I just contributed to Tom Cotton’s campaign and promotion of himself
3. The narration. Orson Field’s narration is over the top, dripping with sarcasm at times, hyperbolic and I ended up feeling bullied.
4. The book makes a serious topic far too politically (and polemically) and it will simply turn people off when it should instead engage them.

I’m hoping someone will suggest another more objective book that addresses the serious problems China creates in the world.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The dangers have gathered and the hour has grown late.' Senator Tom Cotton coined that phrase quite accurately.

History tells us that "the only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn.' Senator Cotton drives the point home time and time again in each Chapter in his 'Seven Things You Can't Say About China.'

Long before the start of World War Two Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were planning for war. Senator Cotton, too, has now warned that Communist China is planning for war. Senator Cotton is persuasive in his book that the Covid 19 pandemic was not an accident.

[John Crippen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Senator Cotton "wrote this book to tell you the truth about China." China is an evil empire. China is preparing for war. China is waging an economic war. China has infiltrated our society. China has infiltrated our government. China is coming for our kids. China could win.

This very short book will give you a good review of what China is up to and why it matters to Americans. That said, I still recommend The World According to China when someone asks "Why should we be worried about what's happening on the other side of the world in China?"

[Kyle Spishock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview at China’s corruptible influence. Of course, it’s written by a MAGA politician, so he doesn’t have the gumption to discuss the current administrations ties to the country. Anyway, here are the things I learned (with a grain of salt):

1. China is an evil empire (genocide against minorities, peaceful dissidence, subjugate Hong Kong)
- China is the longest ruling and successful communist party in history.
- The country has more than half a billion security cameras and two million sensors that maintain their internet firewall, banning terms like “I don’t agree” and anything referencing Tienaman Square, including the date.
- Their social credit score includes support of their totalitarian government.
- Residents are allowed to keep only 2 knives, a small one and a cleaver. Both have bar codes.

2, China is preparing for war
- Under Mao’s regime, Chinese fought Americans in the Korean War.
- Disruptions through South East Asia including repeatedly attacking India.
- Despite support during the Vietnam war, the country fought back against China invasion, killing 30k soldiers.
4 million soldiers including 900k on the ground, compared - The military is made of 4 million soldiers, with 720k+ on the ground to America’s 470 k.
- “Power comes out of the barrel of a gun” - mao
- By the end of the decade China will have 1500 nukes.

3. China is waging an economic war
- Employees, university students, and professors steal software and plans to government sponsored corporations
- DuPont suspended relationships with the country for suspected theft in intellectual property.
- Foreign companies are living on borrowed time, deterring them from protecting their IP.
- BYD is the biggest electric car company in the world due to billions of dollars in cheap loans, subsidies, and forced ventures.
- China could cripple public health in America by withholding basic medication needs.

4 China has infiltrated our society (controlling Hollywood celeb, athletes)
- Starting in 1997, China banned Sony, Disney, Brad Pitt, and Martin scorcese for portraying the dhali lama favorably in seven years in Tibet and Kundun, respectively. Michael Eisner groveled to Disney and Sony lobbied to the WHO for inclusion. There hasn’t been a Hollywood movie with China as the villain since.
- NBA curried favor with China, including training and youth facilities, as well as merchandising. Ennis Kanter, Daryl Morey, and a nets GM were all blacklisted for speaking out against the country.
- Cisco, IBM, Intel, Google, and Microsoft helped develop technologies and microchips to support the China police state.
- LinkedIn and zoom disrupted the contents of Chinese dissonance
- Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Campbells, Patagonia, Costco, adidas, Coca Cola incorporated Weiger slave label

5. China has infiltrated our government
- China targets the family members of politicians and officials. Most notorious was Hunter Biden benefiting from the riches. The bush family was culpable too, including Neil bush travelling to China 150 times, providing funds to Jeb’s campaign, etc.

6. China is coming for our kids
- TikTok harvest sensitive info about their mental health, tastes, and fears. It is used more than every other media app through manipulative algorithms.
- 1/3 of people ages 18-29 got their news from TikTok
- Pushed stand with Palestine
- Fentanyl is responsible for 84% of all adolescent deaths
The drug derives from either China or Mexico (who uses tools and equipment from China).

7. China could win
- American technology and auto sector would be completely decimated.
- We may not be able to buy new computers and smart phones.
- Other fear-mongering doomsday scenarios.

[Donna W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senator Tom Cotton’s book is honest and very informative. A real eye opener to the dangers of Communist China and their influence around the world and especially right here in the USA.
I know how publishers shunned Tom Cotton and I can guess because he speaks the truth!! Thank you for writing this book!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sen. Cotton has opened the door to the reality of the CCP vision and tactics. This book should be judged based on the facts presented rather than style. The message is serious and compelling. For more than 20 years (1970-1995) I lived and worked in Asia and engaged with both CCP members and other Chinese entrepreneurs and business executives in China. As well as prominent overseas Chinese in Japan, Hong Kong and South East Asia. I recommend THE AGE OF AMBITION by Osnos and THE 100 YEAR MARATHON by Pillsbury as companion reads. Both written by Mandarin speakers. These books paint a picture from inside China that validates what Cotton has written. The threat is real.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone who loves this country. I grew up during the Cold War and the treat from China may be far greater than anything we faced then but I believe we are all asleep. The information in this book is absolutely essential and the need to recognize the threat of China and act on it is a matter of great importance for our future. This is truly something that both Democrats and Republicans should be able to agree on.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't "like it", I found it horrific. China knows American greed and takes full advantage. USA can only blame themselves. The stupidity blows my mind. I have a better understanding of what Trump is trying to do but good luck with that. The ones who scream the most seem to be the ones doing the very thing they are screaming about. Insert vomit emoji here. Thou protest too much. Wish I never read this book but I guess I should be aware.

[LaWindes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good recent (2025) summary of our issues combatting the Chinese communist party. An easy read and fairly short (169 pgs). 7 topics are: China is an
evil empire; China is preparing for war; China is waging an economic world war; China has infiltrated our society; China has infiltrated our government; China is coming for our kids; China could win. Book highlights the actions China has taken and could do to achieve their goal of world domination.

[M. MOUNIR · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN EXCELLENT ANALYSIS OF THE CHINESE THREAT

Not only is it an excellent analysis and a wakeup call, it also gives a simple gameplan to follow for immediate results. A must read for today's world turbulent days.

[Kathy Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don’t read anything else, read the chapter on TikTok!

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim volume is a powerful presentation of what the Chinese Communist Party has done, is doing, and has stated that it will do in order to replace the United States as world leader. The malevolence that it has used and is using is staggering. It is an eye-opening presentation to say the least, and its overall message is more than a little scary.

I was a young man during the Cold War when the free world was pitted against communism. It was clear in those days that there was an existential threat and who the bad guys were.

Today that feeling of urgency is not there even though the threat is greater. The book speaks to that issue because of how communist China has infiltrated within our walls. By various means that are clearly presented in the book, China has managed to diffuse perceptions in our country as well as around the world.

The author is a sitting U.S. Senator from Arkansas, and is a Republican. But I felt that it was a level-headed, straightforward presentation that was not partisan. It should be a wake up call for everyone.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I misunderstood the title. I thought it was about seven things no one would believe about China, but it's not. It's about seven truths about China that you can't say without risking retaliation from China for exposing them:
1. China is an evil empire with a history of genocide.
2. China is preparing for war (the arms race, nuclear weapons, military aggression), and has it's eyes on Taiwan.
3. China is waging economic world war by stealing technology and undercutting world industries.
4. China has infiltrated our society through University attendance, social media gaslighting, corporate America, sports, and Wall Street.
5. China has infiltrated the United States in government and intelligence agencies, and acquired land near our military bases.
6. China has targeted our children through TikTok and the schools.
7. China could win global dominance and be the next world superpower.

Senator Cotton from Arkansas uses his education, training and military experience to assess the evidence and expose seven issues based on decades of Chinese Communist behaviors. I hadn't heard about or realize it was this bad. I was amazed at the stories of how China befriended governments in Spain and Sri Lanka then took their ideas, created less expensive products and sold those items back to those countries to undercut their economies. I hadn't realized that U.S. industries, movies and other groups have been intimidated by the Communists power. China has spied upon or targeted U.S. media, military, government, and universities. It's also targeted our children through media like TikTok and drugs like fentanyl. What a sad state of affairs.

Cotton said that the Chinese Communist Party is tired of letting the U.S. run the show. They want to dominate the United States and the world. And they could win through the military, economic and technological power they've accumulated. They could be the next world superpower (phs 153-154).

And the fate of the United States and the world depends on Taiwan. China controls and sells much of the products at Walmart, Costco and Target. Taiwan manufacturers 60 percent of superconductors and 90 percent of advanced semiconductors. If Taiwan falls to China, all industries will be affected (PG 155). Taiwan is also strategically located near Japan and the Philippines. If Taiwan falls, islands nearby will be vulnerable to China (PG 157). The book ends with the thought that China could win world superpower status, but only if the United States lets it.

A good first look at how Chinese Communists want to implode U.S. on their way to undercutting world industries and governments.

[Jarom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senator Tom Cotton's book about the near peer adversary China, is an on point read concerning the current national security standpoint with the USA's fight for global economic influence today. This is a must read for anyone who's trying to understand the political, military, and economic landscape currently. especially as the US attempts to fight China on cyber security, intellectual property theft, and psyops from China via cultural integration within colleges and universities.

[Zach Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid primer for understanding the danger the CCP poses, Senator Cotton carefully writes with non-technical vigor to explicitly make the argument accessible to everyday Americans.

SEN COTTON’S SEVEN THINGS:
1. China is an Evil Empire
2. China is Preparing for War
3. China is Waging Economic World War
4. China has Infiltrated our Society
5. China has Infiltrated our Government
6. China is Coming for our Kids
7. China Could Win

[MauiLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking & Much Needed - Easy Read on Understanding China

The issue most relevant to Americans today is not the Middle East. It is Taiwan. Or more clearly - what happens if/when China “reunites” or attempts to. As Cotton so clearly explains in this book - they don’t even have to win. America as we know it vanishes. PLEASE read this book to understand what our news won’t tell us. Learn why Disney who controls news, bows to China to sell movies there. And what they and other huge corporations do to get funds while selling our country out. This book is a clear primer on international global relations explaining what IS happening and what WILL happen IF we don’t act as individuals now. Tom Cotton you have guts writing this book and fighting for these concepts. You have deep appreciation from this reader for making the case clear, simple, and re-tellable. A few more good politicians like you would be so valuable to this place we call home.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening. Sobering.
Argument is well-written/articulated. (For me to read a non-fiction book, in-full, in one sitting -- it HAS to be an easy/engaging read.)

While I was a little disappointed that Cotton didn't include specific citations for all his data points, I was happy to find that he compiled sources at the end. As I read through, I also did some of my own research on discussed individuals and instances; the information is corroborated across multiple sources.

And for anyone saying that this book is racist or propagandist -- they've clearly not read it; Cotton states first and foremost that the Chinese people are the ones most harmed by their government, that the Chinese people are not our enemy. Please read -- and if you have read any other books on the topic that you find supportive (or contradictory!), please let me know. I am eager to learn all that I can on the matter. This affects Americans (and literally the entire world) in Real Time.

[Greg Kopstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and succinct overview of all that China is doing to take over the world. This is a must-read for every American in order to be informed about the very real threat that China presents to our nation. Put simply, China is much older, has a much longer memory, and has a significantly longer time horizon than the US. Our memory and attention span, at best, is 20yrs, though often no longer than a 4yr presidential term. China’s spans centuries - or longer. Consider this: Xi Jinping’s term is life and he has total control over his country. They are playing 3D chess, while we squabble over temporary policies and trade deals.

I’m very well-read on this topic and I teach about much of it, so this book did not present much new material. However, it was an excellent overview for beginners and a very well-researched but fast-paced read.

Others:
A Shortest History of China
As China Goes, So Goes the World
Alibaba: The House that Jack Ma Built

[Doug D'jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

while I was aware of some of this information, I was very surprised to learn about the influence of China on American sports and American corporations. most surprising was the last chapter about Taiwan. I was always doubtful about why I was so necessary to defend a small island on the other side of the world, but it appears that if China conquered Taiwan, it would lead to a global depression and 90% of all advanced semiconductors are manufactured there and it could shut down our technical industries for years if we lost that supply chain. good book.