I tend to agree with your Chinese line of thought. One company I own a few shares in, is in fact comitted to international acquisition, and is the agent of it's majority shareholder, to accomplish this.

The following is from their website.

"China National Gold, a Chinese state owned enterprise and the largest gold producer in China owns approximately 39.3% of China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd

China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd growth strategy involves looking for strategic acquisitions, exploiting options to evaluate and acquire international projects using China National Gold's international project pipeline, potential partnerships with other senior and junior mining companies, willing to look at various types of acquisition structures, discovering new resources through our exploration rights and selectively acquiring additional large scale minerals assets in various regions, and expanding resources at the current mines. China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd relationship with China National Gold has served to support China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd to act as China National Gold's international vehicle."

They certainly have the money and apparently intend to get to the top in real money holdings. Interesting times dead ahead.