Thanks to everyone who participated in the weekly open thread that started last Friday. It is still ongoing, and is the most active one in a while.

Today’s Essential Eight items:

1. WHO-China report on coronavirus origins

2. More sanctions

3. Xinjiang cotton anger

4. US-China

5. Have PRC maritime militia taken effective control of Whitsun Reef?

6. Wang Yi in the Middle East

7. Awards for campaign to bust gangs and their official protectors

8. Hong Kong

Thanks for reading.