Living in the region, and knowing the culture, unfortunately there is no choice. Corruption is part of all societies to a degree, but the leadership in China are deeply conscious that corruption caused the disintegration of the Chinese Empire, caused the fall of the first Chinese Republic under Sun Yat Sen.
They are barely keeping a lid on things in China itself. They want to avoid Gorbachevs mistake. Give the people money, freedom will follow eventually.
As for democracy. Democracy on the western model cannot happen in China.
But by and large, its not a bad place, and its up and coming. Its just needs to be managed right. That takes a few generations.
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