I agree that fascism is much more specific than how most folks use it, but as a tangent I would argue that China is no longer Communist (with Chinese characteristics) and instead transitioned to Fascism after the death of Mao.
China is not just nationalist but often racist, two characteristics of Fascism but not Communism (which is internationalist and egalitarian). China pushes a market economy under strict government control, creating three legs of Workers, Business Leaders and Government, a facet of Fascism; this is contrasted with the single leg of Communism where everyone is a Worker.
Regardless of whether they're Communist™ or Fascist™, the Chinese government is brutal to its people and often threatens (former) citizens abroad with harm to family members in the PRC. The label is less important than recognizing what they're doing.
China is not just nationalist but often racist, two characteristics of Fascism but not Communism (which is internationalist and egalitarian). China pushes a market economy under strict government control, creating three legs of Workers, Business Leaders and Government, a facet of Fascism; this is contrasted with the single leg of Communism where everyone is a Worker.
Regardless of whether they're Communist™ or Fascist™, the Chinese government is brutal to its people and often threatens (former) citizens abroad with harm to family members in the PRC. The label is less important than recognizing what they're doing.