‘Socialism with Chinese characteristics’ is probably more accurately stated as Socialism with Chinese capitalist characteristics. While it might well be argued that China is a good example of how socialism can provide superior socio-economic forms of governance and productivity to that of capitalism and why socialism should eventually replace capitalism throughout the entire planet, ‘Socialism with Chinese characteristics’ continues to be socialism confined to a single nation state – albeit a very big one. While ‘Socialism with Chinese characteristics’ clearly demonstrates a greater emphasis on meeting the social and cultural needs of its population than that of any other so called major state power, China nevertheless has transitioned to a market economy, and thereby into capitalism. China continues to exploit its working class and nowadays it defends the interests of an increasing capitalist class and their private property relations. While it is probably true that many Chinese workers – especially rural workers, are being lifted out of poverty at a faster rate than anywhere else on the planet, the emergence of a very wealthy Chinese capitalist class and thereby increasing social inequality is also happening at a pace. Socialism with Chinese capitalist characteristics depends on a relatively authoritarian, bureaucratic socio-economic form of governance and productivity and hence does not meet the criteria required of genuine international socialism as advocated by Marx and Trotsky, in fact it is influenced by and aligned to the form of nationalist socialism advocated by Stalin and Mao. 

Be this as it may, as indicated above China is probably the best example the world now has of a ‘major state power’ that is at least placing a significant emphasis on meeting the social and cultural needs of its population. China also has a relatively more sophisticated approach to foreign affairs and international development than any of the other so called ‘major state powers’, particularly the US and it’s so called allies.  

‘Socialism with Chinese characteristics’ – stripped of its capitalist remnants and authoritarian bureaucracy, is an example of what could be achieved via a world socialist revolution as advocated by Marx and Trotsky – an ‘International Socialism’ – a democratic form of governance of the people by the people for the people, At least China can help us stretch our imagination about the formation and development of ‘Federations of United Socialist States’ throughout the entire planet being described as – ‘International Socialism with Asian characteristics, ..European characteristics, ..American characteristics, ..African characteristics, Oceanic characteristics etc: 

We can at least thank China for what it is demonstrating to us by way of preparing for a world socialist revolution and while we are at it, we should also think carefully about why some of the other so called major powers – particularly the US and it’s allies, are feeling so threatened by what China is doing.