But it had me recalling not China, but a previous assignment: North Korea. But Xi Jinping, who took full power in 2013, didn't make it easy for me to keep my North Korea thoughts at bay. There is still a level of latitude and commerce and vibrancy here that is unimaginable across the northeastern border, but some days China really feels like North Korea. But China, like North Korea, is increasingly taking foreign hostages and using journalists as pawns in its political and diplomatic disputes with the United States and its allies. That's longer than North Korea held Otto Warmbier, the American college student.

Source: Washington Post September 28, 2020 23:47 UTC