I've been through this with some here as well.
Unless one sees the Chairman presiding over labor camps then China cannot be communist. The Poliboro learned from the old Soviet model that a closed economic system does not work. China does not have the iron ore, oil or agricultural infrastructure to expand, so she opened her doors in order to feed that need.
Now, since there is a stock exchange in Shanghai and shopping malls in Beijing, most label the country as nationalist, socialist or fascist.
-Nationalists are not necessarily up on imperialism (see Taiwan, hands in the Philippines, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Venezuela, the Panama Canal through Hutchinson Whampoa owned by Li Kashing), but more on preserving soveriegnty.
-Socialists (ala Brazil, Spain) are not necessarily bent on capping free speech or access to information (see prisons filled with political prisoners and the shuttering of internet cafes), but more on creating a welfare state.
-Fascists are not concerned with economic expansion or the individual reaping that reward (see A shares on Hong Kong Stock Exchange), but with the State holding all of the power.
None of these apply to China. Agreed that the traditional definition of Communist does not apply as well. But the Communist does exist in another form.
He is now holding equity and bonds and shaking hands with Westeners while raiding private homes in search of political dissidents. He is building sneaker factories over execution pits. He is issuing press releases on economic growth while closing down newspapers.
The modern Communist has evolved and he has fooled most of the world into thinking he has died.
The Chinese Communists, IMHO, are developing into the greatest threat to western, morally based, liberty the world has ever known...and quickly.
Unfortunately, far too many apologists who wish to ignore reality ignore their actual Constitution and legal system...and both the reality, scope, and extremeness of the Chinese Laogai political camps, and so they DON'T "See the Chairman" presiding...as he in fact is....