We also used to refer to the PRC (People Republic of China - dictatorship of the deplorables er proletariat) as ‘Red China’ to distinguish it from the ROC (Taiwan).
And now they turn it back on us and call US red staters. I supposed because they think we have red necks.
Boy, do I ever remember being frightened when I heard the term ‘Red Chinese’. That’s all their was; the Red Chinese, and Taiwan. And Hong Kong too I suppose, in those days. And their capital was Peking. Like Peking Duck.