[stale2002]

Comunism means worker countrol of the means of production.

Or in other words, all private capital ownership and private business ownership is illegal.

Lots of people own businesses in China. Therefore, by definition, it isn't communist.

[rapind]

Has there ever been a communist country by that strict definition though?

I've always thought communism was just an unachievable ideal. With socialism as the best case implementation of it, and totalitarianism as the worst case.

Kind of like how "free market" is an ideal, but capitalism is generally the implementation.

[stale2002]

The Soviet Union and cultural revolution China are close enough that they count.

In those two societies, almost all businesses we're owned by the government, so I think that counts.

Modern day China doesn't count as there are tons of billion dollar businesses owned by shareholders and private parties.