I am using an analogy. There are people within China who have rose colored glass about Western countries and Western democracy. They think the grass is greener on the otherside. They think the West have the answer, so they are susceptible to Western suggestions, but fail to realize the motive of the West. Why are they advocating democracy? Why are they so passionate about democracy in China? Are they doing because they love the Chinese and want to Chinese to live a better life? Why didn't they push for democracy when they were the colonizer, despite they have democracy at domestically?
People like Liu are people who always see faults and negatives about one's own environment, but never do anything to change it. It is like Chinese dissident who deflect to the arms of other country and then go on and on about how bad it is in China. People like Liu look to other for answer, but never themselve. They would rather lose their independence to get bread, than to be proudly independent toil in the field. They are like Uncle Toms , House Slave. I would bet Liu would rather China be like Japan, a lackey for the West and be develop.
The problem is China is proudly independent and the development path is long term modernization and independence, rather quick modernization (using Western transfer of technology) and be a lapdog of Western country.
Independence from foreign bullying and coersion is a hallmark of a great nation. Democracy is all bullshit. The most basic human right is the right to live a dignified life. I don't think living under colonialism with a foreign ruler on a full stomach is a dignified life.