"Equally bad" is objectively subjective. The reality is, especially on a long timeline, corrupt is corrupt and a degree of corruption is largely irrelevant. Instead we use the perceived degree of less corruption to justify nationalism and other things, and it's largely a matter of perspective. You probably wouldn't believe me but you ask the average Chinese person and they think the American government is just as corrupt as the Chinese. You may differ in your opinion. Who's right? Who knows? But I know one thing for sure, and it's that it doesn't matter who is less or more corrupt.