Mao would not compromise his political views. He was very dogmatic. As a leader, he was an excellent role model on what NOT to do, and what would NOT work.
Taiwan is small, but a lot more prosperous than mainland China, and did not try any Great Leaps or Cultural Revolutions.
Perhaps China would have been better off if Mao and Chaing had joined forces. I doubt that either one trusted the other.
Singapore has been the most successful of the Dragons, it seems to me,
