"But I saw all the Chinese airlines taxi out, line up and off they go."

Yep, standard practice. FWIW, I flew for Air China (A330 skipper) for 3 years and nearly every time we deiced it was under protest from the remaining (Chinese) crew. I insisted on deice one night from PEK when the jet had been parked in SN for 24 hours and had snow on the wings up to the top of the fuse and the guys still tried to pretend "we be ok captain, no need for deice".

Also, when you do convince them to deice, they use Chinese made fluids that do not adhere to any standards and they make up whatever holdover time will get you away without delay. And the engineer will tell you its whatever type fluid you asked for.

"Is it type baked beans fluid"

"ahhhh yes captain, thats what it is"

And the engineer will meet you at the crew bus and try to convince you that the wing is clean, no need for you to check and will follow you around hoping you dont take a peek at the wing from the mid cabin windows.

In many many ways these guys just dont get it!!!!

Rant over, sorry, now its back to my post Chinese contract therapy!!!!!

Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean, calm.........