Because the CCP bills itself as the opposite of a royal empire. Even Xi Jinping thought claims (at least...) it's following socialism with Chinese characteristi

Because the CCP bills itself as the opposite of a royal empire. Even Xi Jinping thought claims (at least...) it's following socialism with Chinese characteristics, with "people as the masters of the country" and that the CCP governs using rule of law. If that, heaven forbid, were not in fact the case then it raises questions about the legitimacy of the regime.