Yes, you're right. But Pillsbury is perceived as being on the red team because he's a lot more moderate and a less fire-breathing type than most others. In addition, he seems to appreciate Chinese culture and respect the Chinese. So the Chinese reciprocate. Personally, I have nothing against Pillsbury and don't see him as any enemy of China. He's just a kind old man. His book, though, was not either inflammatory nor very interesting. I think if you take that book seriously, you've been the victim of Chinese disinformation.
He's not moderate, he's knowlegeable and educated. He doesn't rely on propagandists and BS to get his point across. He doesn't need to be loud. He has a lot of bite, and can back his criticisms of China up. That makes him even more effective, and more 'dangerous', to some that is...Pillsbury gets beneath the surface and looks around.
In a way, Pillsbury and I have a lot in common. We both speak, read, and write Chinese, and have deep appreciation for things really Chinese. At the same time neither of us likes the movement that has gripped China.
Taiwan appreciates its heritage, and so does Lee Teng Hui, but even at that, the communist party can kiss our #sses. Its not "China" that we don't like, its the propagandists, and Communists, and the CCP who are liars to the end.