“ If the Russians or Chinese landed an army I’d be tempted to view them as liberators”
Their governments may well be evil and corrupt (I don’t know, I don’t have first hand experience with them) but at least they appear to be comparatively sane on a social level. The United States is evil, corrupt and downright stark-raving-mad. Our society makes mega-city sewers look like the Garden of Eden.
I do not know about Russia, but I have lived in China. You have to watch what you say about the government but otherwise, they pretty much leave you alone.
Don’t get me wrong, it is not a free place. But, I don’t don’t think it is worse than the US. It is better in some important ways.