China has that gig economy because that is precisely the sort of model that can help to fill in the gaps in its evolving political economic structures since the 1980s. No more iron rice bowl and cooperatives means meaningful employment for everyone is impossible, and likewise foreign investment + indigenous bourgeoisie all thrive on the constant availability of cheap and 'flexible' labor. Tbh even before the internet and apps took this to another level, the hukou system in conjunction with massive construction projects often meant that day laborers and migrants from rural areas would get absolutely shit-tier jobs doing important, necessary work, only to be given very little stability/financial security in return.

This isn't even like 'CIA propaganda' either, in fact there is a whole genre of modern Chinese literature (migrant literature - see this https://madeinchinajournal.com/2020/05/07/proletarian-nora-discussing-fan-yusu/) that is about the struggles and disappointments that migrant labor faces.