I can tell you it is not the airline but CAAC. Also that it does not apply to F/O hours, only PIC at CAAC North.
What exactly that means, the recruiters I have access to do not know. I challenged them with a scenario of an experienced German CMD going to fly DEC in TUR say for 2 years, and then coming back to continue in Europe on his EASA licence for a couple more before applying. They said it would need to go to CAAC and wait for a ruling from them.