United Russia, chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has emerged to be the biggest winner in the 2011 election of Russia's State Duma. However, this victory has drawn fire from some Western media outlets, because the outcome was too predictable. Being accused of being undemocratic can be uncomfortable, but only if the Russians care.

Russia's transition to democracy has cost it dearly. Shock therapy to its economy and politics didn't bring Russia desired prosperity. The brutal wars in Chechnya and terror attacks in Moscow meant suffering for ordinary people. And this suffering didn't bring relief from condemnation from the West.

The Russians certainly want democracy. Otherwise, we wouldn't find them voting in a Western-style election with a multi-party system and undergoing the privatization of their media groups. The former communist state has at least adopted the form of a democratic system.

Yet the country is still unique compared to its peers. Its unforgettable past as the headquarters for opposing the West, and its unyielding ambition to be a superpower both distance it from the West.

The West should give some applause to the Russians. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West has become increasingly stingy in offering cheers to their former enemies.

A powerful opposition party has been missing from the Russian political system. To Western observers, it is a result of authoritarian rule of Putin. But, that is too simple an interpretation. Russians have cast their ballots, and they voted for Russian interests, not Western interests.

Democratic reform won't bring us respect from the West. This is the lesson we learned from Russia. The West doesn't really have an interest in promoting democracy to the world, its scheme is to expand its interests hidden behind that process.

Unless China abandons issues it is strongly committed to, it will never become popular in the West.

A recent Global Times survey conducted in seven megacities in China found 70 percent of those polled agreed "democracy is a good thing," and believe that "democratization is the country's future." On the other hand, they also view Western-style democracy as merely one of the many models for democracy.

It has been 20 years since the collapse of the former USSR. Its fall has provided China with valuable experiences needed to explore its future. China also needs democracy, but our reform is for solving tough issues that have been troubling our country. We are not doing this to please the West.

China will remain the target of Western criticism for a long time. And the stronger the country grows, the more intense the criticism will be. It is not related to whether China is democratic or not.

We should avoid blindly following the West's course, but also not reject their advice. We will take what is good for us.