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From my (limited) understanding, China is both as bad and not as bad, depending on what is being compared and who you ask. You kind of have to read between the lines of pro and anti Chinese propaganda to find the nuggets of truth. But absolutely a lot of the criticisms that get levelled against China are 100% valid against western countries too. Like I can't help but roll my eyes when I read about some US official blabbing about Chinese spying when the US has face-tracking Flock cameras on nearly every street corner, intersection, park, pathway, etc.

You litterally can't form an independent workers union in China, it's Bad.

You can't move to the city you work in, both to keep house prices artificially low and to prevent organizing.

You can criticize the government online but the moment you try and organize a protest you get a knock on the door.

The state aren't openly shooting protestors in the street these days but it doesn't make it a good place for regular citizens.

I think the valid complaints you can levy towards China are similar in respect to any nation that is becoming a dominant superpower. I think the problem that most people are having is that they weren't around when the US or European powers were securing their own hegemony.

Pretty much any developing superpower is going to have an issue with nationalism, historical revisionism, and eyeballing territorial/cultural expansion. I am Korean and have had quite a few Chinese friends. Of those friends opinions can vary greatly depending on where their from and when they migrated. What I can attest too is that recent migrants from the mainland tend to be very nationalistic and have some very worrying opinions about history compared to the Chinese people I grew up around. Particularly that China is basically the motherland of all East Asia, and that all East Asians are basically estranged children that should be folded back into the greater body of China.

I would argue that China is doing this with a much gentler hand than the US or Europe did historically, however it still sticks out due to how those types of actions are viewed through a modern and western centric lens.

The core difference, arguably only with the US, are individual freedoms like speech, religion, armament, etc.

Even though the US is currently trampling all over the bill of rights, it isn't something that can be easily ignored or covered up. Protest can and will still happen all the time.

China heavily values cohesion over individuality, so the only "free speech" you get to usually witness is scrutinized before it ever reaches you, and everyone is aware that the government actively covers up issues.

Aside from that, China is miles ahead of the US in development, infrastructure, and their economy. Most of the US complaints over China are hypocritical as you say, or only exist due to the US viewing China as a military an economic threat.

A lot of people would probably be happy to give up those freedoms in exchange for social stability and quality of life if they were given the option.

From what I heard, in US or EU people are supposed to have some privacy, they have a right to privacy. Police should get a warrant to be able to obtain information about you. And if those are violated, news articles are written, people get outraged and sometimes someone is even punished. In China, you have no right to privacy. Everyone knows the government is following their every step, every action, and they are ok with having no privacy.

My opinion on China is also mixed. On one hand, their policies seem reasonable, they do not engage in proxy wars, support green energy, etc. On the other hand, workers have desparate lives, threaten their neighbours, restrict much more freedom of citizens ...