this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2023
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Response to both 1 and 2:
because socialism isn't defined by how many people in a country have a certain level of wealth. socialism is the transitional period between capitalism and communism, where the proletariat hold state power and build the conditions necessary for communism. before you can have communism you need to have the productive forces in place to make that economically possible. China chose the route of allowing capitalist investment to help develop its productive forces, while maintaining state power and overall control of the economy in the hands of the Communist Party. they decided that it was better for the country to become wealthy unevenly at first, rather than to keep socialising poverty
https://dengxiaopingworks.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/building-a-socialism-with-a-specifically-chinese-character/
as it happens there did arise a great degree of wealth disparity, which the state has begun to tackle since Xi's leadership took over
and that's something they'll need to iron out over time
but the existence of billionaires isn't a reflection of the class character of the state
you might find this article a worthwhile read https://redsails.org/china-has-billionaires/
The Chinese state is cracking down on billionaires and the wealthy, to some extent, mainly as they are a challenge to the states own power. Not as a result of much else. Loyal ones, particularly close to Xi, are left alone.
China continues to be highly neoliberal in business practice, supported and subsidised by the state, if you're in a key industry, particularly as China faces economic downturn. Chinese workers are pliant, and educated. Which is why Elon Musk is there.
The proletariat do not hold the power in China, they are seen as a threat by the Chinese elite. Hence a heavy surveillance state, and large propaganda arm.
The transition from socialism to capitalism, in theory, does not include a devolution back to capitalism lol. Xi Jinping has created more wealth for the Chinese elite than any other previous Chinese President. Unless you think the Germans were also socialist during the 30's and 40's.
It doesn’t sound like you read anything that I sent you.
Also, doesn’t seem like you know how the Chinese democracy works. All that I hear is complete misunderstandings said confidently.
But he does. Sending your kids to Harvard isn't exactly cheap. His personal wealth is only beaten by his political power. Marxism and Leninism are political ideologies, not just economic. Xi also nods his head to Mao, but that doesn't mean anything. Donald Trump also nods his head to Lincoln and Washington.
You don't seem to understand the difference between the party propaganda line, and the actual reality. A lot of urban educated in China do understand this, and know how to toe the line.
We do business dealings in China, and let me tell you that American workers are compensated more for their efforts than the Chinese workers are. That's why we do business in China lol. Its also why we do business in the Philippines. Mainly because we can profit, and Chinese owners can host an elaborate party for us (mainly because their margins are larger than ours). They feel compelled to because it's a prestige thing, to be able to flaunt wealth. But it's not exactly aristocratic, which is my background. One of the wives for example showed us their plate collection for example, which easily breaks over $100k in value, they had some interesting pieces, such as Queen Elizabeth state sets (my family has one of those somewhere), but they won't understand the difference between all the plates, or what they are (that's what the servants are for). It's literally just meaningless consumption, more bourgeois capitalist than you can ever imagine. I've had Chinese businessmen literally call me while they're in France, asking what kind of watch they should buy. It's never under $5,000 at least. One of them bought an Extra-Plat Squelette 5395 in Hong Kong. And these aren't workers lol. Chinese workers aren't meeting with American billionaires, owners of big pharma, literal royalty. It's a class that has been built and expanded under Xi Jinping's reign that has. Just look at Feng Shui, and how the focus is on raking in money, and more importantly, keeping it.