> if the Chinese system were less “malignant”

China is a country with so much racial, linguistic, and geographical diversity that it would likely break up if it were less draconian. Historically this has occurred repeatedly. This is likely to happen anyway sometime over the next few decades given the geopolitical and demographic headwinds and in a much more devastating manner than it otherwise would, but it shouldn’t be surprising that the CCP won’t lie down and accept it.