Under current hierachical system, the leadership of any sector or any unit is appointed by an upper level chief. What's the most crucial standard that chief has to follow when he chooses a lower-level leader? LOYALTY. That is the key word the author of above article missed and therefore his whole argument is collapsed.
When loyalty is the highest concern, competence always gives way.
Just look how student "cadres" in colleges are chosen and programmed. Just look how a leader is appointed.
In most cases, mediocre thugs are the most favorites.
So it's easy to understand why Chinese governments of all levels are full of thugs. When thugs rule, the most common approach they use is threat plus lie or lie plus threat, no different from street thugs of any cities.
I know a lot of such thugs personally. Some of them are my good buddies and sometimes they consult me on how to be a more successful thug. (I'm quite a thug when I have to deal with those thugs, I confess).