China becoming a big green protectionist machine

China may be the biggest green technology and clean energy equipment market in the world. But don't expect the Chinese government to let any foreign companies get a foothold in the Middle Kingdom's nascent green tech sector.

That's the message we get from a thoroughly researched New York Times piece titled "China Builds High Wall to Guard Energy Industry," which quotes high placed executives from General Electric (GE), Siemens (SI), and other companies. My only question is -- are they really surprised this is happening? China has long sought to build stiff barriers to competition in areas it considers essential to its economic future, a model previously employed by Korea and Japan.