China has 55% of the high-IQ working-age people (sofiechan.com)

Those are midwits. Truly intelligent people see past the facade and don't really go into the topics with others outside of subject matter expert groups. Because the areas being focused on by the general population or media are so deviated from the cause or solution.

So, are they suppressed? I highly doubt that's the proper word.

Less ambitious? Perhaps, but not suppressed.