Why would it be any different though? Nations, including China who this author seems to forget is a human rights abuser to people different to them, all criticise each other.
Managing the flow of opinion has always been important and was taken to a new level by the Nazis where the term propaganda emerged. Now we all use political speeches and biased media outlets to frown on countries and governments we don't like.
The author even bringing the term colonial into it could be argued as a way to invite guilt for the past by those who acted this way.
China are on the shit list for many countries. The US are on the shit list for many in the UK (Trump, Israel, constant meddling in other countries governments, destabilising the Middle East, racism, arrogance, leftist dislike of the US, etc) just as we are for other countries.
If China can show us all how pure white as the driven snow they are then perhaps people will have more sympathy? Crying xenophobia whilst imprisoning how many people simply for being a Muslim is going to look pretty hypocritical. And having the highest capital punishment rate is going to be worse than someone saying nasty things to them.
It's just the usual struggle of BS between all our countries who have many demons of their own isn't it?
Is this author following the example of Israel? They have tried to make all criticism of their government fall under Anti Semitism to shut down legitimate concern.
I think it's a bit of both really.