China is one of the great nations of the world. Containing roughly twenty per cent of the population of the globe, its economy is booming, and its role on the world's stage is increasingly influential. Yet this fascinating country is as complex as it is unusual: its inhabitants are denied some of their fundamental human rights.

This powerfully written and incisive book throws light on China's record today. From the restrictions on speech and worship to the lack of freedoms under the law, the economy, health and the environment, it provides a well-informed look at what the inhabitants of this vast state may or may not do.