In recent months, Chinese consumers have seen U.S. companies in China come under government criticism, if not outright attack, for food safety, price fixing and other unsavory practices. The not-so subtle message to China's citizens could well be: Don't go thinking foreign brands, products or behaviors are better than those of China.

That message now could well be expanded to the behavior of government leaders as senior officials in both China and the United States have been brought down by corruption charges. The New York Times has even reported higher suicide rates among Chinese officials as one possible result of an ongoing anti-corruption drive.

Yet, critical differences also abound as contrasting approaches to fighting corruption underscore that China, for now, still remains more a country ruled by party or "people" than rule by law.