I wouldn't be surprised if they're handling this the way they handle most domestic censorship; not so much the iron hand coming down, but more a wheedling press

I wouldn't be surprised if they're handling this the way they handle most domestic censorship; not so much the iron hand coming down, but more a wheedling pressure: "why would you stir up so much trouble, don't you know you're just causing bad blood, think about how this might influence future relations, you're not stupid, I know you'll do the right thing." It's rare that they reveal the bare face of authoritarian violence. Only when they're relatively confident no one will see it except their victims.