Tankies support modern day China and Russia. There’s a veneer of pro-communism but the reality is just anti-Americanism. A lot of tankies pretend that Russia is still a communist state.

All of which would be sad but forgivable. It’s their lying, manipulation, and meddling in other countries’ affairs that prompt the angry response they get.

Essentially, “tankie” = someone who supports anti-American authoritarianism