Because modern people prefer free, independent nations with free and transparent elections and journalistic freedom and freedom from arbitrary detention, not 50/50 with dictatorships.
A democratic country like the US has invaded countless countries, installed US-friendly dictators, and has committed a ton of human rights violations.
I don't think it's as simple as democratic = benevolent.
The fact is, the CCP is still working for Chinese citizens. Their GDP per capita is still rising. Their lives are still improving every year. Considering how things were for China since the 1800s, don't you think that maybe the CCP was the right government for China?
Perhaps in the future when more Chinese citizens are well educated, informed, then they will demand a more democratic country. Let Chinese citizens decide that. They've been overthrowing governments since before the US was created.
Notice there are a lot of negative comments about the USA. Most of us find plenty of faults with the United States, but we keep some perspective too, realizing on the Chinese internet such criticisms wouldn't last long before removal.
The "so what" is that effective systems have a breaking point. The CCP can work for some people, but if it comes at the expense of ethic cleansing (the Uighurs) or violent territorial aggression (Taiwan/Hong Kong) then it's not worth it. All of the countries China tries so desperately to woo agree.
In your own words - those people can choose for themselves. The Chinese government does not respect their decision either way. If China's next moves are to follow in Russia's footsteps, they will be rejected as a member of the first-world altogether (as Putin recently found out). If they somehow dominate despite that, then they will rule over nothing but ashes.
Considering that most threads about China go uncommented and only get a few votes I think it is safe to say that the majority of HN does not care about what people on HN have to say about China and any propaganda posted here is failing. The front page is more representative of the HN community, don't put much stock in the new postings.
Why don't people attempt gaining perspective from their opposing political party? It's tough to break through ego's, for one. But secondarily, what's happening in China isn't directly relevant to many HN readers. One can proselytize to the domestic opposition party with the hope of moving a needle on a relevant current issue. Practically, there's no table stakes or advantages to reading positive pieces about China. And feeling bipartisan about something gives the impression of common ground, even if the parties passionately disagree on other issues.
But secondarily, what's happening in China isn't directly relevant to many HN readers.
My theory is that a lot of tech people here are threaten by China's rise in tech. For example, if TikTok wins, then Meta/Snap/Twitter employees lose. If Xiaomi wins, then Apple employees lose. If SMIC wins, then Intel employees lose. Etc.
It has everything to do with economics and probably social economics too.
