I've had a few american friends scoff at the chinese social score system, and then turn humbly quiet when I point out america has been under a similar system for years already. In true american spirit though, it's privatized.
Being forced to be in debt which you can manage if you are mature enough is nowehere comparable to having to agree to and behave in the line the autocratic rulers want.
Having good credit and paying bills in time is only a small part the Chinese social score system. These two are, in no way, meaningfully comparable.
I am just talking about paying your credit card bills on time. Many people I know do this successfully without fail.
I am not writing a thesis on bigger implications of debt.
It's quite easy to live debt-free. All it takes is to rent a house instead of getting a mortgage, and keeping a positive balance on 'credit' cards.