China’s Foreign Minister is on record as saying that demonstrators opposed to the Olympics would be treated to a cup of tea. Two Britons and two Americans who unfurled banners outside the Olympic Villages yesterday, demanding independence for Tibet, were almost certainly given tea, or at least the ubiquitous Chinese mug of hot water, while police decided just when and how to deport them.

Their protest was daring, and a slap in the face of China’s formidable security apparatus. But there was no doubt that the four foreign nationals would be sent swiftly out of the country (and barred from getting a visa in future) to avoid further embarrassment. The demonstrators, members of Students for a Free Tibet, probably knew that as foreigners the worst likely to happen to them would be hours of frightening interrogation before being bundled on board an international flight. Unlike Chinese citizens, the risk of their ending up in prison was minimal.

Almost exactly a year ago, six members of the group unrolled a similar banner down the side of the Great Wall on the edge of Beijing. All were deported to Hong Kong after an overnight stay in a Chinese detention centre.

The last thing China’s leaders would want is to welcome President Bush to their capital today in the knowledge that two of his nationals were languishing in a detention centre for no greater offence than voicing their opinion. And so the protesters appeared to have timed their action carefully to ensure that Chinese security would get rid of the troublesome four in the shortest possible time — and certainly before the world’s leaders flew in for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

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With the eyes of the world on China, the last thing the authorities want is a barrage of questions from the international leaders about their treatment of those who voice dissenting opinions. The Communist Party leadership knows that those issues will be raised for certain in relation to Chinese citizens. But it is much easier to reply along the lines that their own people are being dealt with according to the law than to explain why they have detained four young foreigners who staged a publicity stunt.

The demonstrators are familiar with the methods of the Chinese security system. The Chinese security men are increasingly familiar with the tactics of the demonstrators. They must be hoping that next time they can foil the protesters before they unfurl their banners. Because Beijing can be certain that the activists will find a crack in their security and do it again. And very soon.