Do you think China suffers from a collective inferiority complex? By that I mean: Any attack or criticism is fiercely resisted because it challenges the party narrative that the party can do no wrong?
Might have something to do with loss of face perhaps which is an important concept in many asian countries [0]. From my understanding you have to be very careful with criticism in many Asian countries, especially with regards to authority. If someone has higher authority than you (e.g. boss at work) he can generally do no wrong or if he does wrong in some way (e.g. makes bad business deal), you don't confront your boss.
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[0]: https://www.tripsavvy.com/saving-face-and-losing-face-145830...
When is the last time you as a westerner, which I assume you are, bragged to your friends about losing face that time you slipped on a banana peel?
You couldn't have said it better. But it's much more attributable to the now waning elites, than anybody else.
Those are people who grew up being spoon fed with success for life, and are envious beyond measure of people who got to succeed without paying a dime for party membership.
They are taught they are amazing with a long history (that they are trying to erase in real tie), but that is hard to reconcile how amazing they are with having sat out the scientific revolution the last 200 years or so.