I guess you pretty much summed up the western world's sinophobia
The average Chinese may not have the incentive to use Bitcoin, but the Chinese government most certainly does! This is a massive economy that is artificially keeping its own currency devalued. They are mostly self-sufficient, but not 100% by any means, AND they are investing heavily in parts of the world like Africa and South America. Buying a significant stake of BTC, like, say, 2 or 3 million, would instantly give them a hard currency with which to do these things, and in the process drive up its price, granting them control of a devalued currency at home and a deflationary currency abroad.
I'm not sure if there is anyone in the Chinese government looking at this, but I am sure they have very smart people there (as they do everywhere), and at least one of them must have figured this out.
Incidentally, a currency that is backed by nothing should be a good fit with anyone who has lived in a communist system for any length of time, so that will not be an objection. They will instantly see the value in BTC... It's deflationary, uncounterfeitable and can be transacted instantly with anyone with an Internet connection.
I, for one, certainly hopenthe Chinese executive gives this newspaper article to some of their brightest!