A few years back, I visited China for a couple of weeks and I was pretty surprised by the people's opinion about the government and government actions that we in the west perceive as abhorrent. Short version: For most of the 20th century, China was in deep shit and bullied by almost anyone who felt like it. In the eyes of many Chinese people, the economic success and regained self-esteem justify almost any measure the government deems necessary. Even if that leads people to be ok with things that we might find horrible, I kind of see where they are coming from. Bottom line: as westerners we have no idea what the world looks like from the Chinese perspective. For many or most Chinese people, the current system doesn't stand for oppression but for the liberation from oppression. I'm sure my story is grossly oversimplified; Chinese readers, please correct me.
A lot of people hate the government, but only in the same way many Americans hate the government. And you're right that they see the CCP as being reasonably good, compared to the alternatives they've had.
In many ways, the central government is much better liked than the local / provincial governments, as they are the ones who clean up corruption when people complain.
No-one likes internet filters (except for the "think of the children" crowd - the filters also block porn). But anyone who really cares can get a VPN, and most people just use puns or images to say things that would normally be filtered.
Yes, you can be hauled to the police for a "tea chat" (literally a cup of tea, and a chat) if you're a popular blogger who is stepping on the wrong toes. But it's not like they're shooting people for dissent - the process is roughly: deleting posts, threats, contacting family / employers, eventually maybe house arrest, fines, prison, etc.
Black arrests are typically internal party matters (e.g. corrupt officials), people protesting in person, organisers, and people going to a capital to petition a higher level of government (some local leader with gang-connections might try to keep people from petitioning his boss).
What annoys the Chinese isn't free speech, per say. It's corruption, pollution, unsafe products, abuse of eminent domain, etc. And things like jobs, education, healthcare, and house prices - they've got a lot of problems, and free speech isn't the biggest one.
Revolutions are expensive. It's a crap-shot whether you get real reforms, or a new strong-man (think Putin). Mostly, they want gradual reform, and that's what they tend to get.
> But it's not like they're shooting people for dissent - the process is roughly: deleting posts, threats, contacting family / employers, eventually maybe house arrest, fines, prison, etc.
Wow. Also, they do shoot people for dissent. Those who aren't cowed or jailed.
> they've got a lot of problems, and free speech isn't the biggest one.
Not the biggest, but one of the most central. You can't agitate for anything you need if speaking out is forbidden, and you can't organize if you're being monitored.
> Revolutions are expensive. It's a crap-shot whether you get real reforms, or a new strong-man (think Putin).
There are seven billion people and maybe 200 'powers'. What's the chance any, let alone yours is doing the exact thing, in the exact way, that you prioritize highest?
Also, agitation is what we call speech we don't like. If we do, it's lobbying, or raising awareness, etc.
The test of a society is if speech is allowed (not forbidden) even if the powers-that-be consider it agitation.
The impression I get is the Chinese feel they are a singular nation: the world's largest, one of its richest, and its fastest-developing (the "sleeping dragon" finally awakening). And then they hear the Western world criticising them...
Sure, China isn't perfect, but it's getting better, and for a significant fraction of a billion people, good enough.
