You certainly have a valid point. I believe, though, that China has been gradually loosening its totalitaristic control ever since the crack down in the late 80's, and they have gone much too far to ever turn back. The progress is certainly slower than I would prefer.
I agree whole-heartedly. China has been the rare success story in allowing economic freedom without political freedom, but that cannot hold forever. Liberty is a virus. It is spread by casual contact. The more contact, the better. There is no vaccine.
I hope you're right. I'm not convinced, but I hope. If another Tiananmen broke out tomorrow, I would like to think that the Internet and satellites would let more people, and more Chinese, know about it in real time. and more folks throughout the country would take to the streets. Enough of an uprising to up-end the Mao regime. I have hope, but not faith.
In the last couple decades, China has become ever more connected with the world. It cannot practice big business without a constant flow of communication; Achilles, let me show you your heel.
I would love to see China become more democratic without violence. I would love to seem them as merely an economic rival rather than a military threat. I would love to have a billion and a half people see a greater hope for a better life. But I don't think it's likely, at least not soon. If events prove me wrong, you will never met anyone happier to be proven wrong.