“The suspicion is that there is interference from the Chinese community and Chinese authorities in this matter.”

That’s a global phenomenon,unfortunately. Researchers found PFAS chemicals in tap and bottled water in major cities across China., just to provide an example. It’s just that these issues are censored in authoritarian states.

Yes. An important detail in that respect is that local governments are required to increase their output at a certain rate set by the central government as Beijing wants to increase its GDP. If local leaders don’t want to get in trouble, they rather meet their goals … This is a major reason why they spend public money for projects no one needs.

Thank you for your respectful and sophisticated opinion.