You only have to look at their bank notes to realise why they still get the Gold Medal for totalitarian politics. Who is on the front of the Yuan – you guessed it – mass-murderer, megalomaniac, worse than Hitler-and-Stalin-put-together-man who was responsible for the deaths of 70 million chinese and many more outside china – Mao Tse Tung. 
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He also has his portrait in the heart of China – Tianenmen Square.
If you are in doubt about the kind of person China still looks up to as a mentor, please read Mao, the unknown story
The fact that one even has to point this out is truly incredible. Imagine if one had to point out that Pol Pot shouldn’t be on bank notes.
** Update – things are looking up. China issues new bank notes without Mao.