>I think when this all comes to an end, China will be one of the countries that dealt with the virus the best. Countries without authoritarian governments likely don't have the means to effectively quarantine major cities and shut down massive portions of their economy immediately without major problems arising. Given a couple weeks, sure, but by then it will be too late.

I don't buy this argument at all. After various failures in handling the early phases outbreak, the authoritarian measures introduced at the later stages meant to contain the outbreak may have increased the infection and death toll in the areas that are quarantined, especially with the type of quarantine that China introduced. As the transmission of the virus is via vectors such as sewage and ventilation, forcing millions of people to stay at home in densely populated cities may actually increase the chance on infection within these communities.

I see lots of people attacking Japan's handling of the cruise ship quarantine, but these same people hardly bat an eyelid when China locks millions of people into their high-rise tower blocks which are as dense.

It may have prevented further transmission outside of Hubei, but are they not able to achieve the same by securing the borders of the region as opposed to locking in the local population?