What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chinese Phantom: the hunt for the world’s most dangerous arms dealer
A gripping, real-life thriller following the authors’ attempt to uncover the truth about one of the world’s most wanted men.
Karl Lee, alias Li Fangwei, plays a key role in the secret struggle between the world powers, bypassing Western sanctions to supply dictators with the weapons they need to wipe out their neighbouring countries — or even to trigger a third world war.
For almost two decades, intelligence agencies have been hunting for Karl Lee. The FBI has put a five-million-dollar bounty on his head, but nobody has been able to catch him. Now, four award-winning investigative journalists have set out to find him. Following the routes of his deliveries and his money, the authors track down his companies in China and uncover his network of shell companies. During their investigation, they get embroiled deeper and deeper in the games of international secret services and realise that Karl Lee is just a pawn in a much bigger game of modern warfare and international espionage.
Karl Lee, alias Li Fangwei, plays a key role in the secret struggle between the world powers, bypassing Western sanctions to supply dictators with the weapons they need to wipe out their neighbouring countries — or even to trigger a third world war.
For almost two decades, intelligence agencies have been hunting for Karl Lee. The FBI has put a five-million-dollar bounty on his head, but nobody has been able to catch him. Now, four award-winning investigative journalists have set out to find him. Following the routes of his deliveries and his money, the authors track down his companies in China and uncover his network of shell companies. During their investigation, they get embroiled deeper and deeper in the games of international secret services and realise that Karl Lee is just a pawn in a much bigger game of modern warfare and international espionage.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2024
7 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 6, 2025
An interesting rat race around the world that left me with more questions than answers about Karl Lee, guess the authors felt the same way.
October 5, 2024
The Chinese Phantom: The Hunt for the World’s Most Dangerous Arms Dealer by a group of four German journalists aims to unveil to the world one of the planet’s most wanted criminals. With almost a $5 million bounty on the successful information leading to his whereabouts and capture, one would think that someone of that caliber wouldn’t survive for long without constant paranoia and the possibility of betrayals. Yet, for almost two decades, the man known as Li Fangwei aka Karl Lee, has yet to be captured. It is in this book that we learn just exactly who this mysterious person is, how the journalists got wind of him, and the five years they underwent traveling all over the world at great peril to hopefully get in touch with this person.
What is typical about this case is that ‘the deeper you dig, the weirder it gets’. - Aaron Arnold – ex-FBI analyst
The book couldn’t have come at a more important time. It highlights the war escalation between Iran and Israel along with the tensions between the world’s two most powerful countries, The United States and China. Interesting enough, one man stands to gain a lot from this. Li Fangwei. But as the journalists are about to find out, not only is he a man of renown mystery, but it seems as if he’s both protected by the Chinese government and, at times, the United States themselves! The story highlights how a Chinese businessman hailing from the city of Dalian within the Heilongjiang northeast province of China has been, for decades, selling and illegally exporting parts used for building atomic bombs and missiles to countries such as Iran. These, in turn, are used against Israel, an ally of the United States. The journalists have their hands full, playing a cat and mouse game of trying to dissect the various shell companies used by Li Fangwei to evade capture and sanctions issues by the United States.
There’s little point in having biological weapons, poison gas, or nuclear warheads, however, unless you can fire them a long way. This is where missles come in — and people like Karl Lee. - Authors
The Chinese Phantom is a pretty amazing read in that these journalists are not amateurs. They have covered The Panama Paper scandal and so are likely familiar with how these criminals escape justice by hiding and evading capture. What makes their hunt so interesting, although they probably themselves wouldn’t have appreciated this fact, is how at odds many of their interviews with potential sources react to this mystery enigma. Sources from the United States and Israel, both countries that have the most to gain from having Li Fangwei apprehended, are often reluctant to talk to the journalists once the subject of this person is brought up
“He May not be a widely known figure, and there’s no Hollywood movie about him, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.” - Ian Stewart – nuclear engineer, director of Project Alpha
There’s a lot to learn here regarding the economic and diplomatic relationship between the countries involved. The war between Israel and the Palestinians seems to never end, and as I’m reading this book, the situation has escalated once again, with only more innocent lives affected on both sides. This story goes to highlight how people like Li Fangwei profit from war and are actually one of the main people responsible for the hundreds of thousands of deaths from the missiles being completed due to his job as an exporter. An atomic-bomb-capable Iran will also help shape a much different Middle East in the future, as it’s looking much more likely that new factions are being formed, with China looking to be on the side of Iran and Russia while the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel are on the other.
What is typical about this case is that ‘the deeper you dig, the weirder it gets’. - Aaron Arnold – ex-FBI analyst
The book couldn’t have come at a more important time. It highlights the war escalation between Iran and Israel along with the tensions between the world’s two most powerful countries, The United States and China. Interesting enough, one man stands to gain a lot from this. Li Fangwei. But as the journalists are about to find out, not only is he a man of renown mystery, but it seems as if he’s both protected by the Chinese government and, at times, the United States themselves! The story highlights how a Chinese businessman hailing from the city of Dalian within the Heilongjiang northeast province of China has been, for decades, selling and illegally exporting parts used for building atomic bombs and missiles to countries such as Iran. These, in turn, are used against Israel, an ally of the United States. The journalists have their hands full, playing a cat and mouse game of trying to dissect the various shell companies used by Li Fangwei to evade capture and sanctions issues by the United States.
There’s little point in having biological weapons, poison gas, or nuclear warheads, however, unless you can fire them a long way. This is where missles come in — and people like Karl Lee. - Authors
The Chinese Phantom is a pretty amazing read in that these journalists are not amateurs. They have covered The Panama Paper scandal and so are likely familiar with how these criminals escape justice by hiding and evading capture. What makes their hunt so interesting, although they probably themselves wouldn’t have appreciated this fact, is how at odds many of their interviews with potential sources react to this mystery enigma. Sources from the United States and Israel, both countries that have the most to gain from having Li Fangwei apprehended, are often reluctant to talk to the journalists once the subject of this person is brought up
“He May not be a widely known figure, and there’s no Hollywood movie about him, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.” - Ian Stewart – nuclear engineer, director of Project Alpha
There’s a lot to learn here regarding the economic and diplomatic relationship between the countries involved. The war between Israel and the Palestinians seems to never end, and as I’m reading this book, the situation has escalated once again, with only more innocent lives affected on both sides. This story goes to highlight how people like Li Fangwei profit from war and are actually one of the main people responsible for the hundreds of thousands of deaths from the missiles being completed due to his job as an exporter. An atomic-bomb-capable Iran will also help shape a much different Middle East in the future, as it’s looking much more likely that new factions are being formed, with China looking to be on the side of Iran and Russia while the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel are on the other.
July 4, 2025
Book Review: The Chinese Phantom: The Hunt for the World’s Most Dangerous Arms Dealer
Rating: 4.5/5
The Chinese Phantom is a masterclass in investigative journalism that reads like a high-stakes espionage thriller—except every word is terrifyingly real. Christoph Giesen, Philipp Grüll, Frederik Obermaier, and Bastian Obermayer (with seamless translation by Simon Pare) deliver a globe-trotting exposé that grips from the first page to the last. Their pursuit of Karl Lee, the elusive arms dealer who fuels global conflicts while evading a $5 million FBI bounty, is as much a revelation about modern geopolitics as it is a white-knuckle chase.
Strengths & Emotional Impact
The authors’ Pulitzer-winning pedigree (Panama Papers) shines through in their meticulous research and narrative flair. The book’s greatest strength lies in its ability to humanize the shadowy figures and systemic rot behind the arms trade. I felt equal parts awe and dread as the journalists peeled back layers of shell companies, government collusion, and international brinkmanship—culminating in the chilling realization that Lee is merely a pawn in a much bigger game. The tension is palpable, especially in scenes where sources vanish or officials stonewall, leaving the reader as frustrated and determined as the investigators.
Constructive Criticism
While the pacing is generally brisk, some sections delve deeply into corporate and legal minutiae that may test casual readers. A tighter focus on the human stakes (e.g., the downstream consequences of Lee’s weapons in conflict zones) could have amplified the emotional resonance further. Additionally, the epilogue leaves a few threads tantalizingly unresolved—perhaps intentionally, given the subject’s opacity—but a broader reflection on the limits of journalism in confronting state-sanctioned secrecy would have been enlightening.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a book; it’s a public service. The Chinese Phantom demystifies the clandestine networks that threaten global stability, making it essential reading for true crime aficionados, spy novel fans, and anyone concerned about the unchecked machinery of war. The authors’ courage and tenacity deserve applause—and their work demands action.
Thank you to Scribe Publications and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy. This is investigative journalism at its most vital and compelling.
Who Should Read It?
-Fans of Bad Blood or Empire of Pain (Patrick Radden Keefe’s style echoes here).
-Geopolitics junkies tracking U.S.-China-Iran tensions.
-Advocates for transparency in global finance and arms trafficking.
A near-perfect blend of scholarship and suspense, The Chinese Phantom earns its place as a landmark work in investigative nonfiction.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Chinese Phantom is a masterclass in investigative journalism that reads like a high-stakes espionage thriller—except every word is terrifyingly real. Christoph Giesen, Philipp Grüll, Frederik Obermaier, and Bastian Obermayer (with seamless translation by Simon Pare) deliver a globe-trotting exposé that grips from the first page to the last. Their pursuit of Karl Lee, the elusive arms dealer who fuels global conflicts while evading a $5 million FBI bounty, is as much a revelation about modern geopolitics as it is a white-knuckle chase.
Strengths & Emotional Impact
The authors’ Pulitzer-winning pedigree (Panama Papers) shines through in their meticulous research and narrative flair. The book’s greatest strength lies in its ability to humanize the shadowy figures and systemic rot behind the arms trade. I felt equal parts awe and dread as the journalists peeled back layers of shell companies, government collusion, and international brinkmanship—culminating in the chilling realization that Lee is merely a pawn in a much bigger game. The tension is palpable, especially in scenes where sources vanish or officials stonewall, leaving the reader as frustrated and determined as the investigators.
Constructive Criticism
While the pacing is generally brisk, some sections delve deeply into corporate and legal minutiae that may test casual readers. A tighter focus on the human stakes (e.g., the downstream consequences of Lee’s weapons in conflict zones) could have amplified the emotional resonance further. Additionally, the epilogue leaves a few threads tantalizingly unresolved—perhaps intentionally, given the subject’s opacity—but a broader reflection on the limits of journalism in confronting state-sanctioned secrecy would have been enlightening.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a book; it’s a public service. The Chinese Phantom demystifies the clandestine networks that threaten global stability, making it essential reading for true crime aficionados, spy novel fans, and anyone concerned about the unchecked machinery of war. The authors’ courage and tenacity deserve applause—and their work demands action.
Thank you to Scribe Publications and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy. This is investigative journalism at its most vital and compelling.
Who Should Read It?
-Fans of Bad Blood or Empire of Pain (Patrick Radden Keefe’s style echoes here).
-Geopolitics junkies tracking U.S.-China-Iran tensions.
-Advocates for transparency in global finance and arms trafficking.
A near-perfect blend of scholarship and suspense, The Chinese Phantom earns its place as a landmark work in investigative nonfiction.
January 9, 2025
This book was an interesting read although I was not persuaded by the premise of the danger of Iran. Do I want Iran to have missiles and nuclear weapons - No. But Iran should be allowed access to Nuclear medicine. With nuclear weapons in the hands of the US, Israel, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea etc Iran is just a smokescreen to allow trading between the nuclear powers. Israel selling military hardware etc to China just gets a cursory mention. Now this worries me!
Looking over the last year and Israel/US killing over 40,000 in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran and barely a reaction from Iran. They are either showing considerable restraint or the threat is just not there.
Looking over the last year and Israel/US killing over 40,000 in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran and barely a reaction from Iran. They are either showing considerable restraint or the threat is just not there.
October 25, 2025
A complex investigation into the arms and weapons dealer Karl Lee aka Li Fangwei - his manipulation of sanctions and genuine clients to cover his expanding empire of arms and products for weapons of destruction, a slinky character that changes business entities like underwear - popping up here, there and everywhere - like a ghost that is hard to define, pin down and eradicate- no matter how hard any legal forces try - overall a good read, food for thought of why the black market remains the supreme enemy to mankind.
November 25, 2024
Interesting investigative journalism on modern proliferation and the difficulty of effectively applying sanctions. The authors argue Karl Lee played a significant role in modernising Iran’s ballistic missile program through the export of dual use components via a web of front companies.
I liked the application of open source and journalism techniques.
I liked the application of open source and journalism techniques.
December 16, 2024
读德国人用英文写关于中文的书本身就是很奇怪的逻辑，本书的叙事风格很拖沓，洋洋洒洒写了一本书，也没有说清楚主角的身份，似乎全书最大的亮点就在封面标题。浪费时间。
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews