Why do Chinese people seem extra sensitive to criticism about their country?

Maybe I've just been lucky, but whenever I've discussed Taiwan, the uyghurs, the CCP, Hong Kong protests, a famous Swedish journalist they have imprisoned called Gui Minhai and such with Chinese people it has almost always set them off in s way I rarely see.

Is it s cultural thing? They know it's nothing personal as some of them are good friends to me, but the moment I criticize China, the country, and its politics it's like they change personality completely. Basically that China is the best and can do no wrong etc.