Residents have long feared that it might turn into just another Chinese city. That is happening, fast
That will not earn them more freedom
Plummeting Chinese demand for a US education will undermine American soft power
To reduce the risk of infections, the gaokao is taking place under tight restrictions
A true fan downloads multiple copies of the same song and insults rival stars
It is harsher than the gloomiest predictions
But democracies can work together to build defences against China’s predatory behaviour
Defiant protesters get a taste of what it will be like
Corruption is certainly bad, but it once emboldened Chinese power-holders to take useful risks
China oppresses Muslims; the world changes the subject
The glimpse it has given shows that Beijing will have sweeping powers
It is a setback for a government that thought it had conquered the virus
