I'm old enough to remember when China decided to open up to investment from the West. They made it perfectly clear what the rules were going to be, and that the rules might change at anytime.
Western Capital could not get into China quickly enough, looking at a vast, cheap labour market and potentially 1 billion new consumers.
Where we are now was absolutely predicted at the time, but was considered worth it.
Capitalism was never going to pass on an opportunity like China.