You have misinterpreted the fundamentals of why these cultures are like they are.
It doesn't matter to them what is familiar or not familiar. What these people always want is a "strong, guiding hand", whoever provides them with that, will have their adoration.
It's the twisted mentality of those that never grew beyond primitive authoritarian civilizations, or only aped surface traits from more advanced civilizations while not changing in their core mentality. That is what makes them so easily colonized, because they don't have a loyalty to ideals or the group, only loyalty to whoever has power.
To these cultures, giving them independence and freedom means you're weak, while abusing them and showing off your authority in vulgar ways proves that you're a strong patriarch worthy of being looked up to.
Vietnam and Japan are examples of cultural groups outside China with this mentality. Tibetans and Uyghurs are examples of cultural groups inside China with this mentality. Why do the latter groups love China and the former groups love America? Because China clamped down hard on the latter groups, while America did the same on the latter.
The key to making them like you is as simple as that.
I'm not saying that China should perpetually abuse and exploit these peoples like the west does, even if doing so would certainly make these peoples love China. China can do better than that, they can reeducate them into dropping backwards thinking and throwing off the shackles of colonialism permanently. But first, they need to be totally controlled, because otherwise they won't listen, and conversely, they will listen to anyone with any message, as long as that entity flaunts their authority.
