You pretty much said it. The CPC holds all the political power in China, they dictate how to organize society, unlike in the west where capitalists hold all the political power and thus dictate how to organize society.

The only thing you could argue are the results of the CPC leadership, and these are crystal clear after you visit China.

The driving force in the PRC is the public sector. An example I like to use is the rubber ball factory vs the rubber factory, the one who controls the rubber factory has power over the rubber ball factory. In the PRC, heavy industry and large firms are almost entirely under state control, the private sector is more for smaller firms and secondary industries.

As for being an Empire, Imperialism isn't judged by size, but by relations with international countries.

https://dessalines.github.io/essays/socialism_faq.html#is-china-state-capitalist

That isn't really a point, could you explain what you meant, rather than sling pejoratives?