They observe. They see the collapse of the USSR that makes Russia weak. They see the bombing of Lybia that making Lybia weak. They see the Orange revolution that made Ukrain weak. They see democracy in India that has made India weaker than China.
The developed countries are strong not because of their democracy but because their imperialism and colonialism in the last few centuries enable them to accumulate huge capital and control more resources in the world. The US is strong not because of its democracy but because of its military power.
The west defeated China in 1840 and 1900, asking China, not for democracy but indemnity and territory recession. Britain ruled Hong Kong for more than 150 years and never gave Hong Kongers democracy.
Western imperialism does not die yet; it just disguises itself as democracy.
