When I've heard people question or say there is no rule of law in China, usually it's followed up with how their court system isn't independent of their political system by design, not that it's lawless/a free for all for the CCP.

Not that I disagree with a large chunk of what you said either, but it's just not hyperbole that China has no rule of law per a common definition of the word because of party and worker judicial supremacy.

Rule of law definition: the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws.

Three Supremes: http://chinamediaproject.org/2010/11/12/three-supremes-%e4%b...