I believe practical and operational concerns will outweigh the testosterone-fueled, nationalistic chest-beating of the spokesman.

Most average Chinese rail passengers don't give a flip about world's "fastest" etc or who-stole-who's technology--they just want to get to where they need to go in a timely way, at reasonable ticket prices, and have tickets available without resorting to huang niu. Many will "eat a bit of bitterness" and settle for a somewhat slower journey if the price is also lower. Multiply this feeling x 1.4 billion.