"Economic Nationalism" and patient safety in China

What used to be called "protectionism" is now known as "economic nationalism," at least when China is involved, according to a source quoted in today's New York Times:

“There is clearly a growing economic nationalism in China that is leading to discrimination against foreign investors in pillar sectors of the economy,” said Myron Brilliant, vice president for Asia at the United States Chamber of Commerce. “It’s not only a threat to foreign investors but it also undermines China’s transition to a market-based economy.”

The issue at hand are Chinese regulations that dictate safety inspections for imported medical devices, but not devices that are made in China. What's interesting to me is that the debate is being framed in terms of fairness in international trade, as opposed to a patient safety issue.