Very good one!
Let’s now ask the question: why those talents would rather be a lab serf than a freeman in China?
My guess:
1) He’ll probably be worse than a serf in China, given more competitions and lack of network (guanxi).
2) He has hope for his kids to have a chance in US. Chinese education system is too hard on the kids, he may consider, (as perhaps being brain-washed by democratic propaganda). But frankly, if his kids are interested in learning, the environment is very good for them to grow, provided that they live in a good community.
One of my friends tempted distributing some resume in China, but no position matches him, both in terms of payment and profession that I like. More, there are too many talents in China, nobody cares you, regardless of you PhD degree from world famous University with extensive professional experiences in SP 500 for prolonged time.[