No. Mind you, the USA government/uniparty is corrupt AF. Most businesses in the USA have all kinds of corrupt practices, especially bigger ones. But by your statement it appears you have no idea how prevalent guanxi is in the very fabric of Chinese society. In the states an unknown person with a good idea can still get ahead without it, but in China that's just not going to happen. Problems range from permits being slow-walked or magically made up on the spot, to bribing all kinds of local party members, to SWAT-style morning wake-ups, to having your relatives punished for your not going along to get along.
Source: investments in China, family in China