The funny thing most Americans don't realize about 996 in China is that the Chinese, while very hard workers, don't work the same way as Americans do. For example lunch is expected to be good (and taken pretty seriously) and followed by an in office nap. This is not some secret thing either but typically encouraged by the company (most office works will have blankets, pillows, eye masks etc at their desk).

Even the Chinese don't believe you can grind at your desk non-stop for 12 hours.

Don't get me wrong, 996 is awful, but the American re-imagining of it is even worse.