Unlike the 18th-century USA, China is party to numerous international treaties and conventions [0] which obligate it to honor certain IP protections. Their enforcement record to date has been spotty at best, with many [1] allegations [2] of state-assisted [3] or -condoned [4] IP [5] theft [6].

Also, between slavery and the Native American genocide(s), I'd say the 18th-century USA may not be a great moral reference point. For that matter, China's government at that time still practiced slavery, foot binding, judicial torture, and all kinds of fun stuff. Neither would be great models for a modern state.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property_in_China... [1] http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/14/news/economy/trump-china-tra... [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/opinion/china-us-intellec... [3] https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-fighter-hacking/theft-of... [4] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-great-brain-robbery-... [5] https://www.networkworld.com/article/2223272/cisco-subnet/60... [6] http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/may/17/...