Heavy ordnance, nukes, etc. can't realistically be employed against grassroots resistance from the population at large. As a rule, corrupt governments prefer to

Heavy ordnance, nukes, etc. can't realistically be employed against grassroots resistance from the population at large. As a rule, corrupt governments prefer to control cities and infrastructure, not smoking craters, so the tools of authoritarian control are limited to police squads and small arms. Look at the Chinese response to the protests in Hong Kong. Are they flying bombers over the city and setting up artillery? No, they're using forces of infantry, police, and paramilitary thugs who are far outnumbered by the protesters. If they actually leveled one of their own cities the entire government would collapse on itself.