I think I am seeing a very patronizing smug here on HN.
> If you actually study a bit about China
I grow up in China, and I know that the root problem is that it's a one-party state. There is no election whatsoever and the country is owned and abused by princelings and government officials. Rural areas are underfunded and manipulated so that resources are concentrated in the major cities. The justice system is not broken, but has never been built. Thought crimes don't only exist but are also prosecuted. With all these serious problems, you are telling me rumors are a huge problem?
Rumors are just a proxy. People are concerned about regional instability and human rights abuse, aren't they??