China's democracy is described as "people's democracy" where people are the masters of the country, which is considered the essence and core of China's democracy. The Chinese perspective emphasizes that democracy is not a decorative item but a means to solve problems that need to be addressed by the people.

However, China's democratic system differs from Western democratic models, which typically feature multi-party systems, competitive elections, and separation of powers. China argues that democracy takes different forms rooted in each country's historical and cultural traditions, and that its model represents "the most extensive, most genuine, and most effective socialist democracy."

The classification of China as a democracy ultimately depends on the definition of democracy one uses, as different countries and scholars have varying criteria for what constitutes a democratic system.