The social credit system is regional, disjoint, and composed of a handful of various trackers. It can hardly be compared with public opinion.

Xinjiang is an exception; it is heavily publicly surveilled.

Internet censorship is strong. The public still has sway over government policy. When search terms are blocked, the public continues with euphemisms. The government is responsive to public opinion. The government does promote influencers with opinions favorable with CCP goals.

Chinese foreign policy is more dovish than public opinion, especially regarding Taiwan.

China has both carrot and stick. Living standards there have improved dramatically over the past few decades. Over here they use a smaller stick, but no carrot at all.

False equivalence. Maybe that’s what they fool themselves with. Salivating, looking at China, not understanding the massive upward social mobility in recent time there. Why stop at China, look at Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.

Murdoch et al aren't that bad either.

Well they also at least give something back with infrastructure and general management of the country. None of that is happening in the US.