Forbidden Starbucks

I've been following the will they/won't they close the Forbidden City Starbucks for a few weeks now. Of course, it has been closed due to popular pressure. Many believed that the presence of this coffee chain in this most revered place was an insult to the history and culture of China.
I asked Randy the other day, though, was I mentioned the news to him, "Is there anything more Chinese than Starbucks anymore?"
I mean, Starbucks did begin here as a retreat for expats and foreign tourists, desparate for a little slice of familiarity. Now it has become such a recognized brand in urban China. No matter which Starbucks we've been to in Shenzhen, we remain a minority among the Chinese customers. Starbucks is China, or so it seems some days.