It occurs to me that we speak of communism (C) as though we all understand what that creature is. Not so! Many here: this board; this country; the whole body of mankind that defend C will all tell you to not tell them what to think of C, are those that do not understand the meaning of the word. C has not succeeded anywhere for good reason: it is a domineering system that interjects all the rules of how individuals conduct their lives, in every aspect, from birth to death, at the point of a rifle. Those here that disagree that communism is all bad are expressing exactly the kind free opinions that would not be allowed under C. Those here who say, "I don't want your opinion" don't understand that they would not be allowed any non-approved opinions under C. The Chinese people number 1,400,000,000, the C party about 96,000.000 which sounds like a lot. Probably half of the 96m are party members to secure & keep their jobs and the other half are True Believers. The total control over every aspect of life in China is exerted by maybe 3½% of the population. It can happen here.
I'm as guilty as anyone, but we should all stop using the word Chinese in referring to what is the Chinese Communist Party, CCP, because it is only 3½% Chinese, and 100% communists. C and Chinese culture, history, traditions, religions, values, et al, are mutually exclusive. China is 56 ethnic groups under one roof. Given the opportunity, most would happily keep their own separate/intermingled/similarities of tradition alive and pass them on to their offspring, but that's not permitted under CCP rulers who want homogeneity in every aspect of life and would/will/are encouraging that at the point of a rifle. Ask any Uyghur about that.
The Chinese with their 5,000 years of culture are famously independent thinkers, having invented black powder and all the things that flowed from that, the mechanical clock, papermaking, printing, the compass, center post tiller steering for boats, the kinds of metallurgy that comes from having blast furnaces; formal civil service system with competitive exams, and of course ceramics that produced tea cups that were strong, graceful, and thin enough to be translucent. When the Europeans mentally compared their own clumsy heavy, thick, low-fired ceramics, -they were astounded. The Chinese had a lot that the Europeans wanted, but they had superior metals, textiles, ceramics, woodworks, artfully crafted precious wares and jewels and that didn't leave much for the Europeans to offer in trade. The Chinese kept closing the door, but the westerners kept sticking their foot in the door. These are the people that CCP wants to dictate all aspects of conduct, life & thinking to. The Chinese people need western help to throw of the shackles of C. We should be happy to help. We can do that by starving CCP of capital financing, alone. C crumbles pronto when it is deprived of OPM (Other People's Money). They cannot be capitalists and communists which are mutually exclusive terms regardless of what the Larry Finks of life want to believe. Wolves cannot be sheep just because they pretend to be herbivores.