China has evolved from being a factory to the world to an economy focused on innovation and high-quality development. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, from 2015, China filed the most number of patents worldwide. In 2017, Chinese companies registered more than one-point-three million patents, an increase of over 14 percent year on year.  

Figures also show China strengthening its IP laws over the years. A report by the Santa Clara University School of Law in the US said, in 2015, foreign companies filed 10 percent of the patent-related lawsuits in China, and won 70 percent of the cases. This counters the widely-held belief that US firms are unable to get a fair shake in China. According to the State Intellectual Property Office of China, that winning percentage rose to 80 percent in 2017.