Considering the rise of convict leasing programs across the south after the passing of the 13th amendment, I’d say there was very little difference.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convict_leasing

> The practice peaked around 1880, was formally outlawed by the last state (Alabama) in 1928, and persisted in various forms until it was abolished by President Franklin D. Roosevelt via Francis Biddle's "Circular 3591" of December 12, 1941.

You use something that was ended (because people thought it was wrong!) nearly a century ago as supporting evidence for what exactly?

It wouldn’t be like paying prisoners literal pennies is a way of getting around the law that made convict leasing illegal.

Convict Leasing is different, and people felt strongly enough that it was bad that the laws were changed (nearly 100 years ago!).

Now the prisoners can get paid some wages in return for labor, in a mostly voluntary labor system.

Unlike the CCP, every inmate had a trial and was found guilty of some crime, and is now repaying their debt to society - as it were.

What did the million Muslims in the article get convicted of in China? Being Muslims? What about the Uyghurs? So now they are slaves for the rest of their lives...

Yes we all know how fair and just the American criminal system is and paying pennies is vastly different than paying nothing.