beijing one australia large independent publishers say decide delay publication book allege widespread chinese government influence australian institutions due legal concern sydney-based allen unwin say statement sunday decide delay publication book silent invasion follow extensive legal advice say book author clive hamilton unwilling delay publication request return book right hamilton say publisher chief executive robert gorman send email wednesday say reason delay due concern possible legal action beijing email gorman review reuters say schedule publish date april next year soon publish book allow us adequately guard potential threats book company possible action beijing email cite fear defamation action allen unwin statement sunday louise cornege head publicity specify court case refer gorman respond request comment hamilton australian previously publish eight book allen unwin say shadow cast beijing enough make nervous consequences publish criticism communist party australian foreign minister julie bishop say monday unaware specific contractual detail author publisher would concern attempt stifle free speech australia particularly behest foreign government china state council information office double rule chinese communist party spokesman office immediately respond request comment send sunday chinese foreign ministry spokesman geng shuang say daily news brief monday unaware issue china commit develop exchange cooperation australia areas basis mutual respect equality concern australia beijing may extend influence country become topic political debate media coverage past year june australian broadcast corporation fairfax media publisher sydney morning herald age newspapers publish report say concert campaign china proxies infiltrate australian political process institutions promote chinese interest china deny claim report chinese foreign ministry say totally unfounded irresponsible fairfax abc decline comment australia attorney-general george brandis say june threat political interference foreign intelligence service problem high order get bad say australian government conduct comprehensive review plan strengthen country espionage foreign interference laws hamilton say book first comprehensive national study beijing program exert influence another nation book document influence penetration chinese communist party australian political party universities cultural organizations well chinese diaspora australia say telephone interview delay book come two international publish house springer nature publish science magazines nature scientific american cambridge university press criticize recently restrict access article sensitive subject china august cambridge university press initially block online access hundreds scholarly article china reverse position reposted material follow outcry academic freedom cambridge university say time move block content temporary decision springer say early month pull access small number article china comply regulations add view move regrettable necessary beijing say publications import china must comply chinese laws regulations australian publisher delay book allege china influence australia