I doubt you can justify lack of unity because of language. China officially have 55 different ethnic minorities. Heck even within the one majority ethnic group, the Hans. There are multiple langagues. Mandarin, Cantonese Fokkin hakka, just to make a few. And this despite the best effort to standardise the language as Mandarin.
That said, it doesn't mean us Chinese do not look at it as we are not Chinese because we speak different language or have different customs and cultures. It is this diversity that makes us rich in culture.
What makes all Chinese is the share history of thousands of years, and the share suffering at the hands of foreigners in the past 200 years. Heck, even in Taiwan recognises they are Chinese. Although this is getting diluted as each generation further move away in culture and connectiveness to the motherland.
Move to your last sentence regarding India maintain unity through democracy. That may be so, but also through armed repression which we don't hear much about from the MSM because it is not in the west to broadcast India's brutality and oppression. What a democracy oppressing it's people!!
Take a look at Kashmir, the Mao rebellion in the south west! Let along the treatments of minority Muslims. And least of all should you run over a cow!
Finally, I agree it's the 'democracy' that's holding India's development back. Maybe that was the West' s plan all along!
