The grandparent don't say anywhere that the US is not democratic, it says that " It has toppled democratically elected governments and installed dictators" that it's empirically truth.
The idea that, in the international arena, and for not USA citizens, the USA is preferable to China is, at least, naive and, probably, dangerous. As a neither USA nor Chinese citizen, none of those two have my best interest at heart.
Not even my own country have my best interest at heart frequently, but at least I have some "checks and balances" there.
My checks and balances: a well-worn passport, pay the taxes and obey local laws, and do everything possible to attain a sail-boat existence, if if a land-lubber.
And, eventually, get that sail boat.
Borders are thin and invisible. Don't be stopped by them.
The idea that, in the international arena, and for not USA citizens, the USA is preferable to China is, at least, naive and, probably, dangerous. As a neither USA nor Chinese citizen, none of those two have my best interest at heart.
Not even my own country have my best interest at heart frequently, but at least I have some "checks and balances" there.