> So authoritarian action is okay if it’s against bad things?

You're adding context that isn't really being discussed. If the discussion is 'Should we support actions by Xi, as an authoritarian, even if we agree with them?', then I'd say no. We shouldn't support actions by Authoritarian regimes.

That's not what discussed here. The discussion here is 'Is this action net positive or net negative?'. I believe it is net positive.

I can acknowledge the beneficial aspects of an action independent of it's executor. Bringing the executor into the conversation changes the topic. Think of it like discussing rocketry advancements in the 20th century. Nazis played a big role, but you can talk about how awesome rockets are without invoking them.