While much of the West edges closer to a full return to normality, China appears to be trapped. In the first few months of the Covid pandemic, Beijing sought to use its low death rate (at least according to official figures) and rigorous control of infections as a propaganda weapon, to compare its totalitarianism favourably with the “chaos” of democracy. Now, either unwilling or unable to end its use of brutal and repressive measures, and with question marks over the efficacy of its home-grown vaccine, it is being left behind as the rest of the world opens up.

The Winter Olympics in Beijing, next month, will therefore be a strange affair. Tight infection control protocols mean that there will be few, if any, tourist visitors. Several countries, including the United States, have opted not to send diplomatic delegations, although their athletes will still compete.

Vladimir Putin, however, will be in attendance, as will the leaders of several other authoritarian states. Also reported to be attending are Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the UN General Secretary António Guterres.

The Olympics are not meant to be political, so there is no reason why these global dignitaries should not be there. However, the WHO in particular has faced criticism over an apparent deference to Chinese officials, not least in its investigation into the origins of Covid-19.

It has recently seemed more receptive to the so-called lab-leak theory. Perhaps that will be a fruitful subject of conversation in between the sporting events.