They create other common enemy (which actually them) for people to point at and finally unified the masses. China in fact succesfuly bring their own people out of poverty compared to capitalist murica (sorry to hear that, "the threat of good example" people can see themself). And China now is not the same as tradtionalist USSR style communist, for you to know.

@fediverseshill sums it well, it's all about neoliberal policy which maybe worse than communist itself.