What type of government structure does China operate under?

China operates under a unitary system of government, which means that power is concentrated in a central authority. The central government in Beijing maintains significant control over local governments and administrative divisions, such as provinces and municipalities. This structure allows the national government to enforce its policies uniformly across the entire country.

In a unitary system, local governments may have some administrative authority, but they derive their powers from the central government, which can choose to grant or revoke these powers. In China's case, the Communist Party of China (CPC) exerts its influence over all levels of government, ensuring that ultimate power remains centralized.

In contrast, a federal system involves multiple levels of government (national and regional) that share powers and responsibilities, which is not the case in China. The confederate structure, which establishes a weak central government with strong regional governments, is also not applicable to China's governance. Similarly, a decentralized system would imply that local governments have substantial autonomy, which is contrary to the tight control exercised by the central government in China.