Make no mistake, China absolutely will clamp down on any dissent. They will bother with even the pettiest of grievances. However, China does it quietly. The journalist will disappear and nobody is allowed to notice that the journalist disappeared.
In mainland China, the biggest source of anger is when the government messes with their children.
The main difference is that the CCP has an obsession with saving face in anything they do. They will hide or suppress anything that might make them look bad, even when they know they can get away with it.
For the West, they aren't as obsessive about what to hide, mainly because they are so arrogant that they (rightfully) believe that they will get away with their blatant abuse of power and play it up as a virtuous action for the greater good.
Make no mistake, China absolutely will clamp down on any dissent. They will bother with even the pettiest of grievances. However, China does it quietly. The journalist will disappear and nobody is allowed to notice that the journalist disappeared. In mainland China, the biggest source of anger is when the government messes with their children. The main difference is that the CCP has an obsession with saving face in anything they do. They will hide or suppress anything that might make them look bad, even when they know they can get away with it. For the West, they aren't as obsessive about what to hide, mainly because they are so arrogant that they (rightfully) believe that they will get away with their blatant abuse of power and play it up as a virtuous action for the greater good.
Lucky, or unlucky, for you Cressida Dick isn't in charge of the MET police anymore.