The reason teh virus spread in China was because Chinese Govt did not do lockdown not because they did it.
Wuhan could have been locked down 2 weeks earlier and stopped it there and then. They didn't and with millions going back home for New Year holidays the virus went with them. Baidu maps correlated the movement of people from Wuhan and the increase in cases, further correlated by Chinese mobile phone companies.
The idea that supposed "Liberal Democracy" states willnot take specific action is laughable, they will but when it suits not when needed. No different from anywhere else.