Saying this doesn't mean I condone what the US is doing with Latin Americans right now, but the way you frame it suggests that China and Russia aren't doing things that many of us in the West find reprehensible. They are authoritarian regimes after all. (Again, that's not saying the West doesn't also do these things, but I do think there is a clear difference in degrees. I don't think my belief is uncommon either).
More importantly, the comment comes off like we shouldn't criticize them. Why not? (We should also criticize the West, because frankly that an essential part of democracy)
Our greatest responsibility is our own nation. Those who try to engender righteous indignation in us about other nations are usually the ones who benefit most from our own worst deeds and practices.
And even then, the propaganda can turn on a dime. Rambo III, where Stallone more or less single-handedly beats the Russians in Afghanistan, has this message in their closing credits:
> "This film is dedicated to the gallant mujahedeen of Afghanistan"
Blatant ignorance of the divisions within the militant groups fighting Russian presence, not to mention rivalries between clan leaders who actually lived in Afghanistan and Saudi-funded foreign fighters looking to establish a foothold in the country.
After 9/11, that message was removed from VHS and DVDs of the film. I remember seeing the TV syndicated version many years back that had the message intact.
There's more than one reason for that, here is one that might be easy to overlook when someone is critizising USA with good reason:
America is not perfect but as a citizen and compared to the bad old commies it was mostly really good.
Between this:
>> ... when someone is critizising USA with good reason:
and this:
>> ... but as a citizen and compared to the bad old commies it was mostly ...
I feel my comment is still pretty safe.
You see, there is often a reason I use all those weasel words; otherwise it would be hard to poknt out that something can be far from ideal and something else can still be really much worse.
I grew up getting a lot of "evil commies" messages in US American media and I'm not even in USA (I'm from UK).