China is lead by a communist party, aimed at transitioning their nation into the first phases of socialism by 2050, right?

In that sense, they are indeed socialist, though practically they're controlling their economy to go in that direction, so it does have captalism too, but that is not an issue as long as it is going well in the socialist direction.

And they seem to be doing well on their goals of reducing poverty, pollution etc.

So yes, they are indeed socialist because their principles and aims are.

Though, I don't think many folk are against that too. Mainly folk who are bombarded by stereotypical definitions of the left and socialism.