You say the US is also bad yet you reiterate the state & media's talking points and propaganda. You're doing the CIA's work for free.

allowed to say how much our country sucks

Since the PRC has whole process democracy people are able to criticize the government and policies in a way that can lead to a better progression of socialism. The framework is democratic centralism, or "freedom of discussion, unity of action." Now criticisms from reactionaries, capitalists, or foreign influences by the CIA, need to be suppressed since they don't benefit society or improve human development. The PRC does have surveillance, but it mostly aimed at keeping businesses/capital and forces that wish to destabilize it from inside or out checked, here's an intro to the Social Credit System. Also fun fact the population of China actually has a higher perception of democracy:

far more human rights violations

The PRC is busy building actual democracy as stated above, lifting 700+ million people out of poverty, helping rebuild and develop the Global South, is far ahead in having social rights with free (or way cheaper) healthcare, education, and housing all while leading the world in renewable energy. The imperial core is busy causing endless wars, looting raw materials and resources from "undeveloped" countries, killing millions, bombing countries to hell, sponsoring an actual genocide and apartheid in Palestine, has the largest incarnation and homelessness percentages in the world, drives people into poverty as material conditions get worse, and has the most expensive and backwards healthcare system all while censoring and attacking those who speak against them.

Is China perfect, no, but it is leagues above any country you perceive as a beacon of "freedom."

I used to think like you but then I got over my smug ignorance by reading things about China that weren’t from the CIA or nazis. It will help you to read the page I linked or look at my other comment on this post to learn.