▁journal ism ▁and ▁publications ▁in ▁the ▁Western ▁countries . ▁Since ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁however , ▁the ▁term ▁remains ▁in ▁use ▁in ▁some ▁circles , ▁particularly ▁right - wing ▁or ▁conserv ative ▁political ▁disc ourse ▁and ▁publications ; ▁non eth eless , ▁some , ▁including ▁some ▁conserv atives , ▁feel ▁the ▁term ▁is ▁not ▁applicable ▁to ▁China ▁in ▁the ▁contemporary ▁period ▁as ▁the ▁country ▁is ▁no ▁longer ▁a ▁" mon ol ith ic ▁political ▁entity ▁whose ▁subjects ▁march ▁in ▁lock step ▁with ▁an ▁all - power ful ▁Commun ist ▁regime ." ▁As ▁of ▁the ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 0 s , ▁" Red ▁China " ▁still ▁retain s ▁some ▁use ▁among ▁more ▁right - wing ▁writers , ▁especially ▁when ▁fr aming ▁China ▁as ▁an ▁economic ▁or ▁political ▁compet itor ▁or ▁oppon ent ▁( e . g . ▁the ▁" Ch ina ▁threat " ▁theory ). ▁" Red ▁China " ▁is ▁sometimes ▁used ▁in ▁more ▁main stream / less ▁over t ly ▁part isan ▁journal ism ▁for ▁met ap hor ic ▁or ▁compar ative ▁use ▁( e . g . ▁" Red ▁China ▁or ▁Green ", ▁New ▁York ▁Times ▁article ▁title ). ▁ ▁S ino - V ietnam ese ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁ ▁China ' s ▁relations ▁with ▁the ▁Social ist ▁Republic ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁began ▁to ▁d eter ior ate ▁seriously ▁in ▁the ▁mid - 1 9 7 0 s . ▁After ▁Vietnam ▁joined ▁the ▁Soviet - domin ated ▁Council ▁for ▁Mut ual ▁Econom