That does not mean he is a dictator but you are correct political protest is not allowed. Surprisingly, though, they will tolerate a pretty heavy dose of economic inspired protest. Some things the Central Committee realizes are more powerful: A group of Chinese upset over a money issue.
> “Surprisingly, though, they will tolerate a pretty heavy dose of economic inspired protest. Some things the Central Committee realizes are more powerful: A group of Chinese upset over a money issue.”
Not true at all.
Here is how they typically handle ‘Chinese upset over a money issue’ - people who lost their life savings in the recent P2P lender collapse:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-lenders-p2p-insight-idUSKBN1KX077
The only protests the CCP will allow are those sanctioned and instigated by the CCP itself for political reasons. Past examples include: Protests/boycotts against French businesses (Carrefour); against Japanese businesses during Island disputes; against South Korean Lotte for THAAD defense.