The hypothesis was a wealthier China would become a freer, safer and more democratic and stable one. Ceteris paribus I still subscribe to that view. But the effect of modern technology on the scaling capacity of dictatorships was unexpected, among other things.
The Chinese government has a tremendous obligation to protect its citizens from external manipulative forces (history books list the primary belligerents) while navigating to a more economically prosperous and freer society (possibly).
Not a walk in the park, more like a tight rope... and regardless of whether we want to admit or not, our tax dollars help put sharks in the water under that tight rope.
You will never accept the fact of domestic resistance to your government's infringement on basic rights all people are born with - even Chinese people.
Hong Kong, Taiwan, and ethnic Chinese around the world live well with democratic governance, free speech, free press, and no communist big brother police state.
No doubt there will be a day when China could become more democratic but initiating this too early in development opens many attack vectors.
Anybody who truly cares about China doesn't want to introduce the risk of Chinese leaders being picked from outside its borders.