Ian Williams

Ian Williams is a British author and award-winning journalist known for his incisive reporting and analysis of global affairs. With decades of experience as a foreign correspondent, he has reported from conflict zones in the Balkans, the Middle East, and Ukraine, and he has written extensively on Asia, particularly China.

His latest book, Vampire State: The Rise and Fall of the Chinese Economy (2024), was named one of the Financial Times' best new books on economics for 2024.

Ian Williams began his journalism career covering business and technology for the Sunday Times before moving into television. He was a foreign correspondent for Channel 4 News, reporting from Moscow (1992–1995) and Asia (1995–2006). He later joined NBC News (2006–2015), based in Bangkok and Beijing.

His reporting won Emmy and BAFTA awards, including his groundbreaking exposure to Serbian prison camps during the Bosnian War.

After leaving full-time reporting, Williams pursued further academic studies in cyber issues at Royal Holloway and the War Studies Department at King's College London. Since then, he has focused on writing and analysis, drawing on his years of experience in the field.

Vampire State examines the complex and predatory nature of China's economy, describing how markets are manipulated, industrial secrets are stolen, and businesses are subjected to the whims of the Communist Party. Williams captures the surreal and often gruelling experiences of those who do business with China and sets them against President Xi Jinping's broader ambition to establish China as the dominant global power.

Ian Williams continues to write from his base in London.

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