It's a common phenomenon in China for foreigners to receive preferential treatment. Even in identical situations, the treatment afforded to Chinese nationals and foreigners often differs significantly, leading to feelings of helplessness and, at times, intense anger.
Recently, a Japanese man's bicycle was stolen in a Chinese city. After he reported it, the local police launched a city-wide search with remarkable urgency. In less than a day, they recovered the bicycle for the man—an individual generally disliked by the local populace. This incident was then touted as a political achievement, a display of preferential treatment towards foreigners that bordered on the pathological.
Conversely, when a Chinese citizen reports a stolen bicycle, the police typically don't even open an investigation.
