While China is certainly not communist in the literal sense do not underestimate the extent that the Communist party and its ideals pervade society.<p>However I do agree that China is better referred to as an Authoritarian government with communist and capitalist influences.<p>Also, we should all not underestimate how revolutionary the Chinese can be.  They have a short fuse and do not in general enjoy the authoritarian regime.  They put up with it for strictly pragmatic reasons,  if given a path of <i>their own choosing</i> that they perceive as better they quite possibly will take it.