I have explained to you that Ma Yun was seen as a threat to the party state, not necessarily to the people.
Ma Yun was not given a platform to speak freely.
People are not given a platform to speak freely.
Hence, your argument of Ma Yun not having people's support is moot.
You toe the party state line, and trying to market it as something desirable, or desired by free people.
Party state legitimacy is based on unfreedoms, not on freedoms.
Yes, in the West, you can see pro-China and Russia voices, detracting from the party-in-power line. They can criticize the Democratic Party. Perhaps this will scare you off, they can even wish and work to dethrone the party in power in next elections.