RTO: they are not forced to fly, but they cannot (easily) change airline, the airlines all having pilot (captain) shortage issues. But quiting your pilot job for an other kind of job is possible for a Chinese.
Many former air china Chinese pilots fly in my company, so this is doable.
In Europe/US, airline pilots fear to be put on furlough or lose their job, in China pilots fear not being able to change airline... An other world right?