Newark Newbie,
The foreign Captains hired by Chinese airlines have to pass the CAAC ATPL written test and a sim ride. Their license is then fully converted to CAAC license and type rating. The so called "training" they undergo is actually a CAAC written test indoctrination plus line training.
I know of a few Canadian Captains hired by China Southern Airlines in 2005 that were unable to pass the written and they had to go back to Canada. Since then the CAAC questions database seems to be available to some airlines though...
By the way, how's the Hudson river view from where you are?