"Isn't it amazing that it's the perfect example of collectivist, totalitarian country, China, that wants to go to the Moon and expand mankind into space?"

I find it more "amazing" that NASA wants to go to Mars- whereas going to the Moon is logical progression to developing space.

"After all, haven't we also noticed it was the governement that made the Apollo program possible, and not the private companies?"

I would note the opposite is true- without private companies building the space hardware, the US govt couldn't have made it to the Moon.

"And Bass and Garver relying on sponsors (that don't seem to show up) to pay for their trip?
And private companies relying on banks (investors) to pay for the development of their revolutionary rockets?"

Most people buy homes using bank loans, does this mean that banks pay for houses for people? No, it means the bank provide a service of lending capital and are paid for this service by the lender.

"The road to privatization of the manned space program is long, much too long.
Go for a government sponsored international space consortium, at least in the shorter term."

Space is a tough frontier- short term does describe "a government sponsored international space consortium". A bunch of pantywaists are not going to open up this frontier- it will take brave men and women.