Ever since 1975, when China reversed Mao's xenophobic policies, China has been open to Western trade and influence. The price has been the traditional price that China always pays for openings to the outside world. The great coastal cities surge ahead, more and more integrated with the global economy, while the vast Chinese interior does not develop. Quite to the contrary, population surges to the cities, attracted by higher paying work. Agricultural production contracts.
China is part of that process and scarcity in China always has political consequences.
When this happened during the 1920s, Mao took to the interior to build a peasant army, dedicated to ridding China of both decadent bourgeoisie and predatory foreigners. In 1975, Mao's policies were overturned, and the coast was once again thrown open to foreigners. The inevitable followed. With the impending death of Deng, as with the death of Mao a generation before, the political forces held in check by a great authoritarian leader will be unleashed. The knives are already out.