Yeah Chinese people are pretty sensitive to criticism, this can bring out the worst of anyone from said country. Unfortunately the "education" system teaches people to behave as if they are speaking to a perceived enemy (which unfortunately includes ANY expat) when a difference in opinion of certain issues are brought up.

In a world which cannot just be superficially defined in black and white, chinese people still tend to be dragged into the political propaganda of which comes from their own respective environments. This really hampers their own progress and growth as people in the long run. However I have met some Chinese who are willing to think in a different direction, but generally speaking this can create a problem between an expat and a local chinese.