Critiques of Putinism from Chinese observers hit especially hard because they are so clear-eyed. While the scathing indictments of Putin's authoritarianism and rapacious imperialism that you see in European and American contexts are certainly not "wrong," they are prone to repetition, thought-terminating cliche about Hitler 2.0, and wishcasting, all of which are perfectly understandable (particularly when coming from Ukrainians and other East Europeans), but can produce inadequate analysis. The Chinese just cut straight to the quick about Putin's absurd 19th century imperialist cosplay as it plays against both Russian human capital and geographic position advantages and end up painting an even bleaker picture of Mother Russia's 21st century prospects than even the angriest Ukrainian can often manage.