Based on my research, here is my analysis of the claim:

Reasoning:

• China is officially a one-party state ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which holds complete state power through its control of the National People's Congress and all government institutions¹.
• The Chinese constitution and political framework describe China as a "communist state" under the "system of people's congress" with "socialism with Chinese characteristics"¹.
• However, China operates under a "socialist market economy" - a hybrid system introduced in 1992 that incorporates market mechanisms while maintaining public ownership as dominant in the constitution²³⁴.
• The CCP exercises strict control over political, military, and economic affairs, with the party general secretary (currently Xi Jinping) holding ultimate authority with no term limits.
• While China has moved away from traditional communist economic principles (collective ownership of all means of production) and allows private enterprise, the political system remains authoritarian and one-party under communist party rule⁵⁴.
• The distinction is important: politically, China is communist (one-party CCP rule); economically, it is a hybrid socialist market system with capitalist elements⁵.

Overall validity: 75%

1. China's Socialist Market Economy: A Great Invention
2. Socialist market economy
3. I Overview in: China at the Threshold of a Market Economy
4. China's “Socialist Market Economy”: A Systemic Trade Issue
5. Understanding Socialist Economies: China, Cuba, and North Korea ...