> Had the article been about Mumbai, Lagos or Karachi I'm doubtful such reactions would have been elicited.

I think this is the key point. We're coming up on the thirtieth anniversary of the crack down:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests

The protests starting 1989-04-15; martial law was declared May 20; tanks rolled in June 4.