What a headache! Why would anyone apply to a Chinese or ME carrier is beyond me? Too much bs and not enough teeth in the local laws to protect the expat contractor. I'd rather do something other than flying than put up with on of these nightmares. But then maybe I'm just getting older, no longer have the energy to play the games the contract world is full of.
I'm saying that having done contract flying work for carriers in India, the M.E. and Asia. At least in India I wasn't required to get a NOC (no objection certificate) as an expat. Just finished up my contract with a 90-day leave notice and went on my merry way. The airline even paid me every cent it owed.