What happened in China is really quite simple.
Chicaps freed from the rigorous impediments of Mao communism went into business and made tons of money that transformed the lives of the people.
People left to their own devices like to work and and make money. South Korea in spite of the chobal’s is a great example.
The ROK Army kids who worked with us at I Corps were hand-picked sons of the Chobals, flag officers, upper-level bureaucrats and corporate farmers, not typical conscripts. I enjoyed many a delicious meal in their homes. Wish I wasn’t a shut-in, now I’m craving Korean food.