And yes, China continues to promise social reforms "someday"... but the CCP is surviving primarily on the economic growth, which they actually have to limit to keep inflation in check. The much poorer and more rural western half of the country is not benefiting nearly as quickly as the more urban eastern half, and it leads to frequent friction, especially if/when prices rise. They have a very delicate balancing act, and they know it won't last forever, hence the other measures mentioned in the article... but again, it is the massive growth of the middle class that really keeps the peace in China.
No, the comparison between Red China and the USA is what’s “obtuse” in fact. The only reason Red China even has a middle class is heavily due to US trade, never mind the other entanglements; the USA grew its own middle class independently of foreign trade, being mostly autarkic thanks to being a free internal market (i.e. before the progressives could tear that down as they did bit by bit after the war).
Red China has spoken of “social reform” ever since coming into existence. No such reforms are possible under a one-party state.