Authoritarian communism isn't a real thing. No country has ever been communist materially in the first place (and none have ever claimed to be), so what we are dealing with is an "authoritarian" socialist nation. Authority is not a unilateral concept; there is no authority "in itself" but authority for different ends and directed by different groups. In class society, authority is largely expressed by the dictatorship of a certain class, so the term "authoritarianism" is meaningless (rule by authority? which form of it?). It is well known that the CPC and the Chinese government have the vast support of the people [https://ash.harvard.edu/publications/understanding-ccp-resilience-surveying-chinese-public-opinion-through-time] due to land reform and poverty alleviation alongside mass line influence throughout government positions.

"Using tanks to suppress protests" which events are you referring to?

In regards to Uyghurs, read this, and I mean seriously read it and come up with a response or shut up: https://xinjiangahr.carrd.co/