Generalised subsidies that benefit the relatively affluent and the poor alike are to be replaced by assistance targeted at the most vulnerable – retirees, families with chronically ill children, and impoverished neighbourhoods – but the state’s responsibility for healthcare, education, social security and welfare is unchanged.
This is the main thing in my mind.
The reforms unquestionably carry risks. A property market, private banks, large firms and remittance-funded investment will tend to generate a propertied stratum, and in the Cuban case along existing fault lines of access to hard currency and family abroad. None of this should be waved away; it is the real cost of the policy. But the wager is a considered one, and it rests on a proposition that China has spent nearly 50 years testing: that a socialist state which keeps political power, public ownership of the commanding heights and the levers of planning and redistribution in its own hands can use markets and foreign capital to develop without being captured by them.
I’m unclear on property reforms. Are large swaths of land open to private ownership?
China abandoned socialism because they use markets.
No, but because most money, gdp (3/4), companies and work (80%) etc is fully privately owned with no state ownership at all, because the workers rights are not improving (gig economy booming, retirement going up, vacation being 5 days per decade of work experience, no practical sick leave, the second employment system), because giant companies are slapped on the wrist for transgression and personal C-levels punishments for shit they do like Pinduoduo
Misleading. Retirement age is being raised gradually over 15 years, while flexible early retirement up to 3 years early remains, delayed retirement requires agreement, special early-retirement protections are retained for hazardous/special work, and older-worker protections are being strengthened. Also, raising retirement from 50 to 55 for women and 60 to 63 for men over a period of 15 years, while life expectancy continues to rise and early-retirement options remain, is not the anti-worker gotcha you seem to think it is.
vacation being 5 days per decade of work experience
Misleading again. While it is true that paid annual leave is 5 days after 1-10 years, 10 days after 10-20 years, and 15 days after 20+ years, public holidays and rest days do not count against annual leave. This adds 13 days of leave off the bat. A more accurat set of numbers would be 18, 23, 28 which is an entirely reasonable amount of leave. (Plus a few extra for minority groups to celebrate our major holidays).
The 2025 consumption-boost plan also explicitly calls for strict implementation of paid annual leave, making paid annual leave enforcement a focus of supervision, protecting rest rights, and prohibiting illegal extension of working hours:
False. China has a statutory medical-treatment period for illness or non-work injury of 3 to 24 months depending on working years and years with the employer. During that period, sick-pay/disease-relief pay must be paid and cannot be below 80% of the local minimum wage. Employers also cannot simply dismiss workers during the prescribed medical period.
Go read up on the concept of the commanding heights of the economy. Not to mention the fact that the party owns the golden share in all major companies, and has members on the board. You could watch an explanation of how the economy in China actually works here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E89qUXTX-k
The word ultra is used to refer to idealist leftists who are divorced from the real world and can’t understand the concept of having to make compromises. It’s the people Lenin wrote this book for, specifically this chapter https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch08.htm
The word “Ultra” is used these days by Hasan Piker stans who get extremely triggered when anyone points out AOC or Mamdani are endorsing another DNC establishment ghoul and entryism isn’t working for the 300th time.
It’s the equivalent ally calling someone a Tankie, but that doesn’t work anymore so now they moved on to “Ultra”.
and can’t understand the concept of having to make compromises.
Your angle of refutation is not that China and Cuba are “making compromises” but “this is good and based actually”.
The word ultra is used to refer precisely to what Lenin is talking about, it’s equivalent to pointing out that you are a deeply unserious person who doesn’t engage with material reality we live in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-leftism
My angle of refutation is that I will never cease to be amazed just how idealistic western left is. I suspect this largely stems from the fact that there is very little actual organizing happening, and most people are just LARPing being a communist online without having any understanding of the complexities involved in a genuine struggle. It’s always easy to criticize real work other people are doing.
It had to be a BadEmpanada video of course. His entire channel is dedicated to attacking other leftists for not being perfect platonic ideals of communism as he understands it. He would accuse Karl Marx of being a liberal if he lived in the same time period.
BE is a twitter-poisoned ultraleft who denounces every socialist country : China, Cuba, Vietnam, etc. He has no materialist understanding of socialism and isn’t to be trusted on any topic just because he correctly opposes Israel.
Crazy guy he doesn’t like Graham Platner with Nazi tattooos murdering kids and DSA members who compromise with genocide.
And he doesn’t think every single thing China or Russia does is good and thinks people should have more international solidarity. Craziest guy on the planet. Absolutely insane.
Being anti-Israel and not apologizing for murderous imperialists like Platner is an extremely low bar (one that much of the compatible left in imperialist countries don’t clear, but still). I don’t recommend getting your politics from youtubers or streamers, but from actual Marxists / MLs. There are plenty out there doing great work, writing and organizing, who don’t spend all their time getting in pointless fights on twitter, and denouncing every socialist project.
Being anti-Israel and not apologizing for murderous imperialists like Platner is an extremely low bar (one that much of the compatible left in imperialist countries don’t clear, but still
Is it? I got banned from Hexbear for posting a video of BE calling out ChapoTrapHouse because they supported Platner. Being against Graham Platner a few months ago was akin to being an “anti-left utra”. It’s quite literally because of BE that the entire US left had to steer clear of endorsing a genocidal Nazi US marines doing tours at Abu Graib.
Something in book form doesn’t spontaneously make it better than it being in video format. BE also identifies as a Marxist and writes (but these days who doesn’t.)
In any case his criticism here are very much valid. Cuba has been a leader in international solidarity. Joining the fight against Apartheid South Africa, educating many doctors and sending aid missions all over the world. But now the US has set its sights on Cuba. And it’s up to others to help Cuba. But sadly Cuba has been let down and international solidarity isn’t what it used to be. Now US imperialism is getting its way with Cuba, and Cuba has to reform to appease the Gusanos. This isn’t Cuba’s fault. There’s no way Cuba can take on the US by itself. It’s the rest of the world that has failed Cuba.
Everyone agrees it’s bad but people are very upset BE points out that the Soviet Union had high levels of international solidarity which gave Cuba a necessary lifeline against US imperialism, but Russia and China are letting the US dictate the terms on Cuba now.
Russia has been capitalist for a long time, but not imperialist. Cuba is grown up now. Both are helping. What are they supposed to do, say: do this and that? Go in and take over and run things? Cuba is sovereign. This is a Cuban issue for Cuban people.
Yes what the US does, did is slimey af. And if China or Russia went in telling Cuba they have to do this or that to get assistance, that’s… imperialism.
What are they supposed to do, say: do this and that?
Pass through the US imposed oil blockade and tell the US to go shove it instead of abiding by US imperialist terms.
Will it come at costs to their own countries? Certainly. But if everyone just thinks of themselves the US will divide and conquer the whole world with ease. First was Venezuela. Now Cuba.
They did no such thing.
They sure did. https://youtu.be/n7dvICgJYuI?t=4m17s
Bad Empanada is fucking embarrassing 💀
Adhom #25
I can’t tell if this video itself or your uncritically posting it is the bigger “oof” moment.
https://socialistchina.org/2026/06/25/cubas-economic-reforms-and-the-prospects-for-socialist-renewal/
Please stop spreading ultra nonsense
I asked and received. Thank you.
Edit:
This is the main thing in my mind.
I’m unclear on property reforms. Are large swaths of land open to private ownership?
This reminded me of that cope article of when China passed the Gaza genocide approval resolution and whaddayaknow
https://socialistchina.org/2025/11/19/china-explains-its-abstention-in-un-gaza-vote/
Yet more examples of splitting. In the span of weeks, BE was promoted to golden god of truth & righteousness, and Cuba demoted to capitalist pigs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealization_and_devaluation
Of course it’s adhominems. Are you going to keep defending the Serbs too? https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-finds-new-breakaway-allies-bosnias-serbs
Are you going to keep repeating NATO slander against the Serbs?
NATO loves these guys
Next you’ll be telling me that China and Vietnam abandoned socialism because they use markets.
No, but because most money, gdp (3/4), companies and work (80%) etc is fully privately owned with no state ownership at all, because the workers rights are not improving (gig economy booming, retirement going up, vacation being 5 days per decade of work experience, no practical sick leave, the second employment system), because giant companies are slapped on the wrist for transgression and personal C-levels punishments for shit they do like Pinduoduo
My polish nationalist friend we meet again. Here you once again remain pushing falsehoods.
Gig economy being actively cracked down on and regulated to the benefit of workers:
https://hrss.suzhou.gov.cn/jsszhrss/zxfgk/202405/9acd0c4465e24bfeab20419cab150233.shtml
https://ldjy.xizang.gov.cn/xwzx/cjyfzzc/202402/t20240226_404989.html
https://ipc.court.gov.cn/zh-cn/news/view-2849.html
https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/450651.html
https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100013/c5241790/content.html
https://chrm.mohrss.gov.cn/人社部等六部门部署加强新就业形态劳动纠纷一站/
https://chinajob.mohrss.gov.cn/h5/c/2024-11-13/418523.shtml
https://www.news.cn/politics/zywj/20260426/7f994e10f9f14810b899795970007a30/c.html
Misleading. Retirement age is being raised gradually over 15 years, while flexible early retirement up to 3 years early remains, delayed retirement requires agreement, special early-retirement protections are retained for hazardous/special work, and older-worker protections are being strengthened. Also, raising retirement from 50 to 55 for women and 60 to 63 for men over a period of 15 years, while life expectancy continues to rise and early-retirement options remain, is not the anti-worker gotcha you seem to think it is.
https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/tt/202409/t20240913_666042.shtml
https://chrm.mohrss.gov.cn/《实施弹性退休制度暂行办法》发布/
https://big5.www.gov.cn/gate/big5/www.gov.cn/zhengce/202409/content_6974508.htm
https://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2025-01/02/content_117641102.html
Misleading again. While it is true that paid annual leave is 5 days after 1-10 years, 10 days after 10-20 years, and 15 days after 20+ years, public holidays and rest days do not count against annual leave. This adds 13 days of leave off the bat. A more accurat set of numbers would be 18, 23, 28 which is an entirely reasonable amount of leave. (Plus a few extra for minority groups to celebrate our major holidays).
https://publicservices.hrss.tj.gov.cn/ecdomain/framework/zcydt/fbbafimfopkibboikmfajfanojgaanpa/fadgmmdgopkjbboikmfajfanojgaanpa.do?disp_template=ccnjmfhhefpibbodjemcncephdmpjlhn&fileid=1092&isfloat=1&kbms=1&moduleIDPage=fadgmmdgopkjbboikmfajfanojgaanpa&siteIDPage=zcydt
https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=1737
The 2025 consumption-boost plan also explicitly calls for strict implementation of paid annual leave, making paid annual leave enforcement a focus of supervision, protecting rest rights, and prohibiting illegal extension of working hours:
https://www.news.cn/politics/zywj/20250316/12731c57b4e547f99c55606d9950bebd/c.html
False. China has a statutory medical-treatment period for illness or non-work injury of 3 to 24 months depending on working years and years with the employer. During that period, sick-pay/disease-relief pay must be paid and cannot be below 80% of the local minimum wage. Employers also cannot simply dismiss workers during the prescribed medical period.
https://rsj.gz.gov.cn/zmhd/cjwt/ldbz/content/post_10319021.html
https://chinajob.mohrss.gov.cn/h5/c/2021-06-10/309418.shtml
https://www.gjxfj.gov.cn/gjxfj/xxgk/fgwj/flfg/webinfo/2016/03/1460585589931971.htm
please stop smoking crack, it’s not good for you https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2024/chinas-private-sector-has-lost-ground-state-sector-has-gained-share-among
You do know those are not the same? Its literally like saying that USA citizens live good life because S&P is over 50k.
Edit: and if you don’t believe me about gdp, here you have PRC press release from 3 years ago about Privately owned enterprises (POE means no government shares) http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/pressroom/2022-06/29/content_78295756.htm , ans here you have Daecheng Institute listing pure State Owned Enterperprise GDP https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/720545740 at below 30%.
Go read up on the concept of the commanding heights of the economy. Not to mention the fact that the party owns the golden share in all major companies, and has members on the board. You could watch an explanation of how the economy in China actually works here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E89qUXTX-k
Or even better, actually read a book https://redletterspp.com/products/the-east-is-still-red or two https://1804books.com/products/chinas-great-road would be a new experience for you.
That sounds more like Worst Korea than China or Vietnam.
The Cuban social system is not being abandoned because they wanted to but because the US successfully imposed it on Cuba.
Cuban social system isn’t being abandoned period. Please stop spreading ultra nonsense on here.
What do you even think the world ultra means?
The word ultra is used to refer to idealist leftists who are divorced from the real world and can’t understand the concept of having to make compromises. It’s the people Lenin wrote this book for, specifically this chapter https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch08.htm
The word “Ultra” is used these days by Hasan Piker stans who get extremely triggered when anyone points out AOC or Mamdani are endorsing another DNC establishment ghoul and entryism isn’t working for the 300th time.
It’s the equivalent ally calling someone a Tankie, but that doesn’t work anymore so now they moved on to “Ultra”.
Your angle of refutation is not that China and Cuba are “making compromises” but “this is good and based actually”.
The word ultra is used to refer precisely to what Lenin is talking about, it’s equivalent to pointing out that you are a deeply unserious person who doesn’t engage with material reality we live in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-leftism
My angle of refutation is that I will never cease to be amazed just how idealistic western left is. I suspect this largely stems from the fact that there is very little actual organizing happening, and most people are just LARPing being a communist online without having any understanding of the complexities involved in a genuine struggle. It’s always easy to criticize real work other people are doing.
It had to be a BadEmpanada video of course. His entire channel is dedicated to attacking other leftists for not being perfect platonic ideals of communism as he understands it. He would accuse Karl Marx of being a liberal if he lived in the same time period.
BE should stick to the one thing he can do well, making fun of Zionists. But I guess the holy algorithm rewards the other things better.
Yes videos about Cuba do soooo well on the algorithm.
All the while he spreads imperial propaganda about China and Russia/Ukraine.
BE is a twitter-poisoned ultraleft who denounces every socialist country : China, Cuba, Vietnam, etc. He has no materialist understanding of socialism and isn’t to be trusted on any topic just because he correctly opposes Israel.
Crazy guy he doesn’t like Graham Platner with Nazi tattooos murdering kids and DSA members who compromise with genocide.
And he doesn’t think every single thing China or Russia does is good and thinks people should have more international solidarity. Craziest guy on the planet. Absolutely insane.
Being anti-Israel and not apologizing for murderous imperialists like Platner is an extremely low bar (one that much of the compatible left in imperialist countries don’t clear, but still). I don’t recommend getting your politics from youtubers or streamers, but from actual Marxists / MLs. There are plenty out there doing great work, writing and organizing, who don’t spend all their time getting in pointless fights on twitter, and denouncing every socialist project.
Is it? I got banned from Hexbear for posting a video of BE calling out ChapoTrapHouse because they supported Platner. Being against Graham Platner a few months ago was akin to being an “anti-left utra”. It’s quite literally because of BE that the entire US left had to steer clear of endorsing a genocidal Nazi US marines doing tours at Abu Graib.
Something in book form doesn’t spontaneously make it better than it being in video format. BE also identifies as a Marxist and writes (but these days who doesn’t.)
In any case his criticism here are very much valid. Cuba has been a leader in international solidarity. Joining the fight against Apartheid South Africa, educating many doctors and sending aid missions all over the world. But now the US has set its sights on Cuba. And it’s up to others to help Cuba. But sadly Cuba has been let down and international solidarity isn’t what it used to be. Now US imperialism is getting its way with Cuba, and Cuba has to reform to appease the Gusanos. This isn’t Cuba’s fault. There’s no way Cuba can take on the US by itself. It’s the rest of the world that has failed Cuba.
I’m also unclear on the ins and outs of market reforms in Cuba, and would like an analysis or few. In the meantime, I keep this comment in mind:
https://hexbear.net/comment/7271699
Everyone agrees it’s bad but people are very upset BE points out that the Soviet Union had high levels of international solidarity which gave Cuba a necessary lifeline against US imperialism, but Russia and China are letting the US dictate the terms on Cuba now.
Russia has been capitalist for a long time, but not imperialist. Cuba is grown up now. Both are helping. What are they supposed to do, say: do this and that? Go in and take over and run things? Cuba is sovereign. This is a Cuban issue for Cuban people.
Yes what the US does, did is slimey af. And if China or Russia went in telling Cuba they have to do this or that to get assistance, that’s… imperialism.
Pass through the US imposed oil blockade and tell the US to go shove it instead of abiding by US imperialist terms.
Will it come at costs to their own countries? Certainly. But if everyone just thinks of themselves the US will divide and conquer the whole world with ease. First was Venezuela. Now Cuba.
Do you imagine Cuba has no say in this? Has it occurred to you maybe Cuba doesn’t want this?
If Cuba was scared and wanted to abide by the terms and agreements of the USA they would have done so a long time ago.
Only now that the US has successfully crippled and starved Cuba are they throwing in the towel.
What the…
No one said that but you.
Please stop worshipping randos who got rich talking 💩 about things of which they have no knowledge.
Edit: here https://socialistchina.org/2026/06/25/cubas-economic-reforms-and-the-prospects-for-socialist-renewal/