THE COUNTRY THAT THOMAS FRIEDMAN ADMIRES: China to Gays: Get Off the Net.

Nationalism and “healthy” family values are in, say the Chinese censors, while homosexuality and references to China’s past use of force against neighbors are out. And lest one think the guidelines were mere suggestions, the authorities have already begun to enforce them with severe force. As the FT reported last month, the government has already coerced top tech groups into deleting 300 mobile video platforms and firing 10,000 journalists who were in violation of the rules.

China has lately earned plaudits among Western liberal bien pensants for its paeans to the Paris agreement and rhetorical opposition to Trump’s protectionism. But China’s role as the liberal darling isn’t likely to last long as Xi turns key liberal beliefs into thought crimes.

To be fair, lots of people here — *cough* CNN *cough* — are going after “thought crimes” too.