I think some people have (rightly enough) developed severe media skepticism with respect to China, which can occasionally backfire into denial of bad things that they do actually do.

This is why I like to recommend Sixth Tone to people - it covers a lot of these issues through a very critical lens, but it's not a western source (it's literally owned by the party) and so it's a much easier starting point for understanding all of it.

Also, you'll be happy to know that the last guy was just drunk and messing around.