Dylan’s China Debut Goes Off Without a Hitch

The Chinese Culture Ministry reportedly bought up 2,000 of the 18,000 tickets to monitor the former protest singer’s show in Beijing.

Although his folk songs inspired a generation of social change in North America, Bob Dylan clearly had no intention of making a political statement during his first show on Chinese soil Wednesday. He steered clear of any songs that could be construed as controversial by the Communist government, dropping classics like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin' ” in a set that was closely watched by intelligence officials. Dylan’s first tour of China comes at a time when the government is even more wary of unrest because of recent uprisings in the Arab world. Internationally renowned artist Ai Weiwei, an outspoken critic of the Communist Party, was arrested last weekend and has not been seen since.