Off-topic : That's entirely incorrect about Saudi ... You need to study history of Al-Saud family they are murderers and power hungry ... For them Islam is a tool to impose their rule (I am myself sunni muslim so dont consider my views motivated by sect but purely from objective point) ...
On topic : You might be right as geo-politics of the region is changes continously ... However, if I would have been decision maker in China ,,, I would have gone for a deal of assembly only without transfer of any key tech ...
@The SC I think I am not clear to you ... What I am saying that I am also thinking that KSA can go for J31 as they dont have any opotion now (Probably if they decides USA may re-think its strategy of not offering F-35) however, the deal will be limited to a tailor made of the shelf solution or alternatively a simple assembly line without transfer of technology ...
However, out of this decision another aspect is avionics as currently all of the communication system of KSA is nato based and it will never be connected to any Chinese system .... J31 on its own without connecting to other assets will means to use the platform at half of its potential ...