You are about my age.
The difference between us is how you see things.
When I talk about Mao's legacy, economy outcome, performance at most 1/3 of his contribution. Mao is revolutionist, he saved China from the status of India which is still colonized mentally.
China can be US friend under KMT, maybe neutral between USSR and US during Cold War, just like India. But China will not be independent under KMT. The KMT is as rotten as India Congress, as weak as India Congress.
By and large, KMT is a stooge, inner divided, penetrated.
Bad luck for US and USSR, KMT is now dying in Taiwan, while CCP is still in charge.
India has stayed out of outright military alliances with USSR and USA. If China is not a threat India would stay at a distance from Washington even now.
It is hard to control a large entity like China even when the KMT is ruling. The beauty of disorder is that no one can predict things
the whole idea that USA can control or manipulate large countries easily is silly - USA has had little luck with even influencing friendlies like Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Mexico