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. Awar…