The Chinese bosses wanted them out there burning American flags instead. Better to lose everything America gives than to lose everything. That's, indeed, one possible explanation of Beijing's heavy foot to the floorboard. There is, alas, a less felicitous explanation. There you have it.
China fears an anti-Communist uprising.
America fears an interruption in trade with communist China. China knows our dirtiest little secret. Sure, our leaders like democracy. An athlete can be too addicted to drugs to play. An actor can be too addicted to drugs to act.