Peter Schweizer announces the subject of the book: the alleged threat China poses to the US. Schweizer argues that the country is already engaged in a form of “unrestricted warfare” (xii) and “disintegration warfare” (xii) against the US. Schweizer claims that China’s tactic is inspired by the ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu’s philosophy of subduing the enemy without fighting—using strategic attacks on The US’s social, political, and economic fabric rather than traditional combat. Schweizer gives the example of the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident, which he positions as symbolic of larger, ongoing threats from China, such as the influx of illegal drugs, propaganda, and cyber-attacks.

Schweizer contends that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploits America’s vulnerabilities by fueling the US fentanyl crisis and promoting the use of social media platforms like TikTok to sow discord among Americans. These methods, Schweizer claims, are designed to weaken the US from within by creating social instability, disrupting the economy, and undermining public trust in institutions. He also alleges that many American political and business elites are either compromised or financially tied to China, which prevents them from confronting the issue head-on.

Generally, Schweizer criticizes the US leadership for its failure to act decisively against China’s supposed threats.