[throwaway290]

I didn't downvote you but if a government

- offers no way of replacing itself democratically

- extends own term indefinitely

- blocks free exchange of information

- censors specific speech that shows its failures or desire of people to replace it

- suppresses internal protests with murders and disappearings of people (1989 Tiananmen, 2019+ Hong Kong, blank paper movement, ...)

etc then it's super clear its primary goal is maintaining power.

Sure, it cannot maintain power without at least seeming to be "aligned with nation". But it takes second place to maintaining power.

[pessimizer]

There's probably more disagreement within the Chinese government than between the two dominant parties of each of the western powers.

[red-iron-pine]

Perhaps, but you wouldn't know it, and the results sure aren't felt domestically or internationally.

[throwaway290]

Everyone knows when people disappear or get "nicely escorted" from party meetings. /s

I am guessing the comment above somehow meant that more infighting within a gang of literal criminals who put themselves in power and clearly struggle to maintain it means the gang is somehow better than a democratic government? But I cannot see the logic

[throwaway290]

Yes of course. Because those disagreements are about how to stay power really, and something else for looks.