"Masks may confuse that message and give people a false sense of security. If masks had been the solution in Asia, shouldn’t they have stopped the pandemic before it spread elsewhere?”"

Ummm.... South Korea and Taiwan had comparable numbers to the US in February but have had far, far fewer cases since. Japan has had a very low rate.

Yeah, the PRC probably got hit really hard, undoubtedly harder than they will admit. But I'd say overall the Asian countries where wearing a mask has been part of the culture have done way, way better than we have.