1) Mmm... worth to keep trying but they tend to be stubborn as government policies are a big influence (with the loss of face involved) into this.
2) Should they ever run out of qualified local pilots to give a chance for that first job (you are in that same spot regardless your background, in their eyes), yes, they would look at you. Is it going to happen soon? Well, Cebu Pacific is spitting out some 300 MPL's a year, from nada to Prada in about a year. Same for Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, the whole of China, Thailand...
Just keep trying... Not fancy ME?