I think it's a mistake to view 'China' as a monolithic state, however much it may want to be so.
My reading of this is that the authorities in Wuhan were scared stiff of losing face in the eye of the CCP in Beijing, and tried to mount a cover-up. When this no loner worked , and the situation became all to clear the central power of the state took over and put appropriate measures very quickly.
So criticism of China should be directed at the political system at its weakest point, the reluctance of regional authorities to admit anything is wrong in their region for fear of offending the central party organisation. Maybe you see this as a distinction without a difference?
Originally Posted by: DEW