Why is it called the People's Republic Of China when China's not a republic?

Most socialist countries try to make themselves seem nicer by pretending to be republics. Being a republic implies that the people are running the show, when really they are being oppressed by a tyrannical government. In addition to the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), there was the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), there is the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea), there is the SRV (Socialist Republic of Vietnam), and there is the Republic of Cuba. I submit that the USA (a country in which I live and love) may need to consider adding the word "Republic" somewhere in its official name. But that's a subject of another answer.

in contest... china is a republic... but not directly elect for all the people... a kind of that