Only now that bitcoin is so popular and the price rose so high, China has the audacity to accept btc as it is. Way back when btc is just 100 times cheaper, they just can't accept btc in their country. They were influential back then but now, I think any news from them are just ordinary and can't influence the market.
But let me clear it, I am happy with China's decision.
It's not any audacity, it's just plain economic decision making. And I don't think they've always been against it, just they were receiving so many scam complaints in the past so they just banned it to save people the trouble of being scammed (or rather if people get scammed they won't dare to complain anymore).
Nothing new though:)