Why should China be different than other places? In Denmark, an employer can demand a copy of a future employee's record. If criminal records were not needed, we would not have invented them. If you were arrested and charged with a crime, it will be on your record. Yes, there is the whole "paid your debt" argument, which I support, but the employer should be allowed to decide whether or not he/she wants to employ a criminal, whether it is car theft, dope dealing or rape the person in question committed.
I, as stated above, had to hand in my record before even being able to get the visa. It did not cost me anything. Go to police, get copy, hand in.
Who exactly decides which crimes are ignorable? Possession of drugs? That is an ignorable crime? If you were hired by a school in the US or the UK and you had to show your criminal record, would a drug charge, however slight, not make said institution raise some eyebrows? Political demonstrations? Which demonstrations? Is China not allowed to decide whether or not it wants FG-fans, free T*bet agitators, Anti-Chinese Govt dissidents in their country or their classrooms?
I am also all for the employment of ex-offenders, as far as I am concerned, if you committed a crime and was sentenced for it, jail or fine, you paid for it. Our criminal justice system is based on the idea of correction or rehabilitation, hence the term correctional facility. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not think so, which is sad. However, I am also in support of full disclosure of all facts on both sides, both the employer and employee, in all cases, if they ask.
I still don't understand how this paedophile could even get a visa to China. I could not get mine without a copy of a record. Oddness...