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China did consider and compare both designs of UH-60 and NH90. NH90 is actually a more general style to do almost everything. The advantage includes a rear cargo ramp for loading vehicles. It's a natural choice for European countries which do not have many specialized lines of choppers. And only a couple of countries have heavier models like CH-47 and CH-53. So NH90 must be also used to carry vehicles. However, China is different from those European countries. China is more like the US. The Army uses Z-20 mainly for transport of troops and air assault. For vehicle transport there are Z-8's.
The reasons why PLA chose the UH-60 style over the NH90 style might include:
1. Lower profile with smaller side area for better chance to survive from the attacks in the battle field
2. Lower profile and big side doors for easier access and easier unloading of the troops
3. Can be carried by tactical airlifters. NH90 have to carried by airlifters like A400M.
4. Better protection to the troops in a crash (thanks to the wheel placement, lower tail beam, and the rear gas tank). NH90 has to put the gas tank under floor due to the tail door
5. Cheaper than the NH90 style due to the lower profile and smaller size of the body. Different from the totally production of a few hundreds with NH90, China needs thousands of this class of helicopters for both military and civil usage. So it's a big difference.
6. Operation experience in PLA
Even though UH-60 seemed to be an older design than NH90, China can put latest avionics and material inside to make it just as advanced as NH90 and UH-60M.