China is one of the very few countries that has enough power, especially over the US, to be able not to cooperate if they don't want to and it is reasonable to

China is one of the very few countries that has enough power, especially over the US, to be able not to cooperate if they don't want to and it is reasonable to expect that they might not. Furthermore Hong Kong specifially is somewhat independent from China when it comes to oppression. I also wouldn't be surprised, if a NSA analyst with that clearance level travelling to Iceland would raise a couple of red flags.