Absolutely. I have relatives who have lived (happily!) in China for many years. They are based in Liaoning so I know that area the best, but I've visited Beijing, Sichuan, Guangzhong and Hainan too. They are distinct in terms of culture and lifestyle from my experience and all very far from the western perception of state oppression and uniformity. Chinese communism is much more free market in the modern era with many industrialists and innovative companies that aren't state controlled while in the US we're constantly told it's the beacon of freedom and free markets while free speech is being repressed, the military is used to protect corporate assets overseas making them wards of the state in effect, and now the state is setting up protectionist economic policies (so not a free market at all), while discussing imprisoning citizens overseas for holding the wrong opinions about government policies. The polarity has reversed!!
Absolutely. I have relatives who have lived (happily!) in China for many years. They are based in Liaoning so I know that area the best, but I've visited Beijing, Sichuan, Guangzhong and Hainan too. They are distinct in terms of culture and lifestyle from my experience and all very far from the western perception of state oppression and uniformity. Chinese communism is much more free market in the modern era with many industrialists and innovative companies that aren't state controlled while in the US we're constantly told it's the beacon of freedom and free markets while free speech is being repressed, the military is used to protect corporate assets overseas making them wards of the state in effect, and now the state is setting up protectionist economic policies (so not a free market at all), while discussing imprisoning citizens overseas for holding the wrong opinions about government policies. The polarity has reversed!!