False dichotomy. Large Infra projects need huge land parcels. What do you think your options are in China if the govt decides it wants your land?

They get away with all kinds of abnormal activity because most of their citizens are still poor. Once people have resources they won't bend over as they once did. I doubt their rate of progress will continue as it did over the last 2 decades. Things are going to get more complex for them not less.