Newly powerful China defies Western nations

As China grows, most economists expect it to take a more Western, laissez-faire approach to its economy. Because this is the way the economic powerhouses like the United States function, it has long been assumed that China's businessmen would become increasingly more Western in order to both connect and compete. However, there now seems to be a growing trend in nationalization across the country. Instead of moving to a more capitalist economy, the means of production/private firms are being purchased by the government. There has been an increase in arrest for crimes related to state security and China is one of the most strict regulators of the internet. They have also condemned the United States for selling weapons and meeting with exiled world leaders, like the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Chinese leadership does not view these changes as arrogant or detrimental, but rather as a national pride of sorts. They believe China is just refusing to give in to the more longstanding economies and stand up as a world powerhouse, which could prove to be problematic for US/Chinese relations.