I get where you’re coming from but that’s not an argument about the defining characteristics of dictatorships, that’s an argument about the existence or lack thereof of free speech.
In my opinion a better argument would be that China has 1 leader at the top of the ladder with near unquestionable power over government precedings who will remain in that position until he either dies or chooses to step down. That already would make him something analogous to a monarch, but add the regular use of military strength in forcing compliance from the masses and now we have a dictator.
When it’s too hot you aren’t always able to get cooler.
When it’s too cold it is always possible to get warmer. If only in a small way.
In the middle of winter you can put on another layer, wear fuzzy socks, drink a nice warm drink, hell even just blow into your hands. But in the middle of summer sometimes you just have to suffer.
I fucking love winter and no one can take that from me