Why is putting tariffs on imported Chinese goods a bad deal? Isn't that a choice? You don't have to sell your products in the U.S.

Fine, China is a Sovereign country and can do what it wishes, but so is the U.S.

Was that meant to counter my argument? If so, you’re arguing a straw man. :)

The problem is that China insists they don't do forced technology transfers, and gets angry themselves when e.g. the US cuts off Huawei. If the government openly said "you can't do business in China if you don't want to give us your tech", I don't think anyone would get angry about that, but it would put them in a substantially worse market position than they currently enjoy.

But you can't do business in China without handing over your tech and partnering with locals.

Needing that translated, stamped and signed on fancy paper is irrelevant. The message is loud and clear to anyone wanting to do business.

Sovereign nations are allowed to make laws. They are under no obligation to make things easier for foreign multinationals.

Having things stamped and signed on fancy paper is absolutely relevant. As the article describes, not having that fancy paper enables the government to brazenly lie, saying forced tech transfers are being stopped when they're actually being ramped up.