The fact that so many Chinese people's opinions of their country differ so markedly from what you would expect, based on what you read in Western media, should

The fact that so many Chinese people's opinions of their country differ so markedly from what you would expect, based on what you read in Western media, should at least lead to you reevaluate your own views. What you're saying is that Chinese people who have lived in the West, who have seen Western coverage of China, nevertheless are much more sympathetic to their government than you would expect. Doesn't that pique your interest? I'm not going to paint a rosy picture of China, but the view you get in most Western media is extremely heavily distorted, and almost completely out-of-touch with what is actually going on in China, what most people in China care about, and so on.