[secondcoming]

> Why is China not as rich as the West

I find this hard to believe

[RandomLensman]

Look at GDP per capita, very simple. Middle-income country - they might even get stuck in that trap.

[natmaka]

I don't think nor wrote that it "had the better governance", and merely proposed an explanation for what we know (acts of the governments, reaction of most citizens).

[RandomLensman]

Then it isn't an "elephant in the room", i.e., dictatorship has not delivered in China.