China views the people as expendable
It is definitely a difference in approach. In many eastern countries (not all communist in structure), what is decided to be the greater good (which is very subjective and debatable) prevails compared to the individual and his rights. In the west, it's generally the reverse: the individual is at the base of society and his rights are not debatable (in theory, because in practice with had lockdowns and other rights 'suspended'). That's why Russians aren't moved by the atrocities they commit, while the West is.