David Barboza

So they are gonna figure out not only ways around it, but what are the other leverage points we need Chinese export controls, right? We're going to put our own export control regime in place. So I think that's what we're going to expect in the next couple of years.

So they are gonna figure out not only ways around it, but what are the other leverage points we need Chinese export controls, right? We're going to put our own export control regime in place. So I think that's what we're going to expect in the next couple of years.

Right, right. So David Barboza, and I'm a former New York Times correspondent.

Right, right. So David Barboza, and I'm a former New York Times correspondent.

And so I actually wanted to do this story looking into the secret wealth of Chinese leaders for four or five years, but I didn't think I could get the documentation. But I had collected really in paper notes over years, many dinner discussions. I would go back home and I would write some notes. I heard this about the prime minister's family. I heard this about another Politburo standing.

And so I actually wanted to do this story looking into the secret wealth of Chinese leaders for four or five years, but I didn't think I could get the documentation. But I had collected really in paper notes over years, many dinner discussions. I would go back home and I would write some notes. I heard this about the prime minister's family. I heard this about another Politburo standing.

committee member, I heard this about how they had this secret wealth through private companies and public companies.

committee member, I heard this about how they had this secret wealth through private companies and public companies.

So eventually, by 2011, I had talked to the editors and I said, I'm going to try to figure out whether there are documents and evidence to prove what I've been hearing about year after year in private meetings with friends and with business people that there's this huge amount of secret wealth in their hands. I was a documents person. I had written about Enron and others.

So eventually, by 2011, I had talked to the editors and I said, I'm going to try to figure out whether there are documents and evidence to prove what I've been hearing about year after year in private meetings with friends and with business people that there's this huge amount of secret wealth in their hands. I was a documents person. I had written about Enron and others.

I love documents and corporate records. And I actually mapped out like everyone who had been on the Politburo or the Politburo Standing Committee for the last 20 years. And I ended up focusing on the prime minister at the time, Wen Jiabao, because I had so many notes about him. My friends had met his wife, who was called the Diamond Queen.

I love documents and corporate records. And I actually mapped out like everyone who had been on the Politburo or the Politburo Standing Committee for the last 20 years. And I ended up focusing on the prime minister at the time, Wen Jiabao, because I had so many notes about him. My friends had met his wife, who was called the Diamond Queen.

I had heard about his son, who was in private equity and worked with Goldman Sachs and others. And to be honest, I was hoping to find $2 to $3 million worth of hidden money. I never imagined that we would end up with $2 to $3 billion, and that was our conservative estimate.

I had heard about his son, who was in private equity and worked with Goldman Sachs and others. And to be honest, I was hoping to find $2 to $3 million worth of hidden money. I never imagined that we would end up with $2 to $3 billion, and that was our conservative estimate.

Any foreign correspondent, especially for an American outfit, would know that when you're in China, you are followed. State security has assigned people to follow you, to interview your research assistants, to camp out sometimes in front of your building to see where you come and go, to take them to tea, to ask them, what is David reporting on? Where is he going? So the entire time I'm in China,

Any foreign correspondent, especially for an American outfit, would know that when you're in China, you are followed. State security has assigned people to follow you, to interview your research assistants, to camp out sometimes in front of your building to see where you come and go, to take them to tea, to ask them, what is David reporting on? Where is he going? So the entire time I'm in China,

I know I've been followed many times. Our car has been tracked from hotels. When I check into hotels in China, I give them my passport, which says I'm a journalist. And therefore, the next morning, state security or public security is there and they might follow me for the day. They are very concerned with what you're writing about.

I know I've been followed many times. Our car has been tracked from hotels. When I check into hotels in China, I give them my passport, which says I'm a journalist. And therefore, the next morning, state security or public security is there and they might follow me for the day. They are very concerned with what you're writing about.

And there's no concern greater than the personal lives or the families of the leaders. If you're going to be dealing with anything about leaders and their families, you're going to be really a top target of the Chinese government. We know not to make phone calls, not to meet people that give away what we're working on.

And there's no concern greater than the personal lives or the families of the leaders. If you're going to be dealing with anything about leaders and their families, you're going to be really a top target of the Chinese government. We know not to make phone calls, not to meet people that give away what we're working on.