I will read the white paper to which you link because it looks interesting and it's important to obtain information from the source. (Can't digest it before I r

I will read the white paper to which you link because it looks interesting and it's important to obtain information from the source. (Can't digest it before I respond to you here.) I have read about the positive aspects of the Chinese system of representation and the iterative improvements that it's intended to introduce. Definitely some things to learn from that approach. Still, I can't go so far as to call it direct democracy and it's not just semantics or my reference to the Swiss system. Here is my reasoning. The Chinese government (central, provincial or local) is known for some heavy handed tactics that just wouldn't pass in a direct democracy where the people is sovereign. Example: China's anti-coronavirus measures. (I am not arguing for or against but the case illustrates the mechanism.) I see no evidence that a large majority of Chinese citizens support those measures. In Switzerland, it was clear that the majority supporting measures was razor thin and this led to significant compromises. Primarily because there would have been more and more democratic initiatives seeking to limit government action and some would be successful. Neighbouring countries with less direct democracy do not feel this pressure and do not move so quickly.