No, tankie is a reference to Soviets using tanks to quell uprisings in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968).

Tankies are not leftists, they're authoritarian simps that hate the United States and love China/Russia. If you think Russia is leftist you're insane, doubly so for China.

Edit: I also find it funny that the person I'm responding to has had this explanation given to them already.

Edit 2: Ok that may have been an honest mistake, I'm sorry I'm just like a raw nerve when it comes to this topic.