i think there were issues of building quality in constructions, but mainly the issue of 建築標準. i grew up the houses constructed exactly with "非延性現澆樑柱以及預製混凝土樓板,填充牆為無筋磚砌體牆". as a kid back then, we also did some work to help the construction; the walls had no 鋼筋 at all, all bricks and topped with 預製混凝土樓板.
also that area like tangshan, wasn't classified as the worst class of earthquake area, until the worst quake hit.