> Over the past decade, China has demonstrated serious resolve to enforce an effective IP rights regime, and to bring the system in line with other developed systems in the US and Europe
I think this is entirely questionable where you have rampant IP theft [1][2] (I can recall couple of major recent incidents), and the claim that 1 in 5 US companies face IP theft in China [3]. The Chinese government wants to attract foreign businesses and number 1 concern for any western company when they want to do business in China is IP. It doesn't surprise me that the Chinese government is drumming up its stance on IP protection.
Lack of respect for IP runs deep in Chinese culture, articulated in great detail by Paul Middler in his book "What's wrong with China?". Having worked in China for a long period, there is no better summary of the Chinese business culture.
[1] Huawei Case: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-prosecutors-probe-huawei-on...
[2] Micron Case: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/22/technology/china-micron-c...
[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/1-in-5-companies-say-china-s...