this is pretty much the point. China has a huge population with no idea of democracy at all. They have a culture which is only at best, two generations from mass starvation, and are quite happy to settle for a quiet life, 2 meals a day and a roof over their heads, at a very basic level.
They moved into the smokestack industries, as the Yanks call them, some time ago.
they now have more money than they have any intention of spending at home, and a totalitarian government who place a high value on long-term security
judging them by Western standards is missing the point
''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.