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My definition for socialism is that the working class holds power, as opposed to capital. China, Cuba, Vietnam, all meet that criteria. They use markets, but that doesn't make them state capitalist as capital doesn't dictate policy as in capitalist states.
Is your argument that a state is only socialist if they abolish private property on day 1?
My argument is that if you're saying that what defines socialism is the working class holding power, then Western nations, such as European or Commonwealth nations, are advancing your definition of socialism more than China.
So you should be advocating for Europe and Commonwealth nations over China if advancing socialism is your priority.
Consider this: China has one overarching union, the ACFTU, which is controlled by the state, which is the Chinese government. Independent unions, separate from the government, are considered to be illegal in China. Workers cannot unionise without explicit permission from the Government, and can only do so through the ACFTU.
Compare that to Western Nations, where worker unions are legal and largely separate from the government.
Out of these two, which more aligns with your definition of socialism being the working class holding power?
When the workers control the government, unions are redundant at best and reactionary bastions that will impede progress at worst, which we saw them stike at the behest if the CIA in Allande's Chile and Sankara's Burkina Faso.
I support unions in europe, I don't support their enemy, the capitalists and their governments.
Workers have better conditions in europe, due to colonial history and crumbs afforded by the threat of socialism, but the state isn't run by and for the working class as in AES countries.
If workers control the state, why must workers be prevented from organising independently?
Because those independent organizations can have interests opposed to the rest of society. Outside forces, historically the CIA, then amplify the influence of members who support such actions via money, media presence, and "international" support.
If independent unions are a threat, then the state doesn't fully represent workers.
The interests of different groups of workers can be diametrically opposed, or literally opposed to the interests of every other group.
But there's no opposition here, there isn't allowed to be.
That's why independent unions are important, so they can represent the diverse interests of workers.
They are represented, in government. We're going in circles here.
It is a cyclical argument we're having, yes.
That's why it's important to have some introspection. What pathway exists for workers to collectively oppose a state decision that harms them?
Like, look at these examples of China and the ACFTU oppressing and dissolving independent unions, arresting striking workers and arresting labour rights activists.
Workers in the JASIC factory formed a union with the assistance of left-wing students and Maoist, feminist and socialist activists. The Chinese government responded with mass arrests, raids and censorship.
Coal Miners protested against the Longmei Group, a state-owned enterprise (meaning the Chinese government owns it), for not paying wages. The organisers were arrested in their homes, and wanted photos were released of the striking miners.
Members of the Guangdong Panyu Migrant Worker Centre, which is an organisation that advocates for labour rights for workers, both migrant and domestic, were all arrested and had their houses raided.
Same with a union, talk to your representative. Failing that, complain about your rep to the guys above them.
But that relies entirely on the authority deciding to act against itself. You're turning a workers' union into a bureaucratic, administrative process. You're removing the workers' collective bargaining power and independence and turning it into an administrative grievance channel, that's consultative, not a sharing of power.
If what you describe is actually the pathway, there wouldn't be the need for these strikes and arrests.