You should maybe look at it from an experienced Chinese pilot's point of view. He's not overly impressed by perhaps a less experienced expat getting a deal more than he is, for doing the same job.
So, why would a company employ more expensive Western pilots?
Because they don't have enough of their own.
Been happening for years in The Gulf. Despite what we think of the job, when I worked for GF a lot of educated young Arabs didn't want to sit in a flight deck in the middle of the night or, IIRC, nor did those who WERE pilots care for doing standby
