I’m not saying markets = development of the productive forces towards the end of achieving communism, but that is clearly China’s goal.

Uhmm, i'd beg to differ, but okay.

Do you think socialism is a mode of production? Feudalism is characterized by lord/serf relationships and mercantilism/capitalism by employer/employee. What does a non-capitalist, non-communist, socialist state do coming from a feudal society? What should its relations and mode of production be?

China has for long not been a feudal society, the times of Mao are long gone, but the employee/employer relationships haven't changed much (though as far as i know it's worse for foreign companies), 996 work schedule is still a thing (or is it western propaganda too? If it is, what's the truth?), so pardon me for not believing the socialist project narrative uncritically.