Chinese people are critical of the government but when speaking to Westerners, they are tired of being lectured.

It’s like, when you want to go wash the dishes, and then someone nags you to wash them and “explains” the importance of keeping things clean.

Almost every interaction with Westerners about the government isn’t because they genuinely care about Chinese people, but rather to feel superior, like they are saving the “Chinese” from themselves.

That’s what it feels like and why many Chinese don’t like talking about it.

Unless of course pandering to Westerners can make them money. Then there are some that will gleefully act the part.

I mean, let's just imagine a hypothetical situation where the totalitarian system breaks down, riots happen and 1+ billion people are starving in China. I do not expect the West to sit and wait it out while it happens.

The West will surely only get to hear all the "sorry sorry sorrys" when it's too late.

Unless the many of us who believe that modern democracies ARE better are wrong, in which case China can continue taking IP, threatening foreign companies and claiming oceans while the rest of the world waits for it all to go tits up.

We make fun of the leaders and the systems all the times. Most private comments in my close circle are pretty critical(“wtf is this brainwashing Xuexiqiangguo app”). And I think overseas Chineses could show up as more patriotic than they were in China, because most of us had never been discriminated even slightly before or ever heard so many bad news for their motherland. Chineses overseas are also pretty self-proud, we probably don’t like hear some meme too many times.

Though, it’s not quite likely your Chinese friends/colleagues will ever talk with you about that unless you guys are super close.

haha on the Xuexiqiangguo app. I frequently hear complaints from people who have to use it.

I agree pretty much what you said. But I am in the motherland.

And to elaborate more on what you said.

There are lots patriotic people and vice versa, and the patriotic voices are often heard on the net. You won't hear much the other side because it's censored.

I was once on the side of making hard change. i.e overthrow the Gov. But the more I stay here and saw what have gone through in other countries, the more am I inclined to the side of soft change.

With 1.4 billion people, a hard change will be devastating to everyone and the rest of the world. It's just too easy to wonder why the Chinese haven't stood up to the Gov and not thinking about the consequences, esp You won't be the one doing it. And most of the Chinese are living a good life here and it's just too much to risk for.

I think the Gov has to screw up big time to stir up the hard change and I don't like to see it happen.