It's about guanxi - making important connections. In those cases, I would assume it's a bit of the ole "brown-nosing"... But this is a required part of Chinese culture if you plan on doing business or avoiding extra "fees" on things.

In China, it's all about who you know.

Are you just making an assumption that they are only hanging around for this type of reason. The only way you would know for sure is if the the expats or the rich locals had told you. If it is the expat then they are no different than some parasites that hang around the rich and famous in every country for the fame or fortune. If it's the local then again just the same as anywhere where some people with money or fame get off on surrounding themselves with their bunch of hangers on to boost their own ego (famous examples Mike Tyson, Paris Hilton, Micheal Jackson amoung many). My opinion is that again like anywhere if people are hanging out socially with anyone for any other reason than the enjoyment of their company then they are not the type of people I would like to associate with. But as I said. Dont think that this is exclusive to China.

Like the old rich guy that walks around with a hot little blonde on his arm. Rich Chinese do enjoy being able to show off that they have a foreign monkey, and said monkey isn't even expected to put out at the end of the night (unless the rich guy bought the laowai a hooker for the night).

Plus getting anything done is China requires a certain amount of guanxi. A couple of fancy dinners toasting baijiu and you've now got connections with powerful business men and government officials.

So you are selling out your pride and possible self-respect for free dinner, drinks, and potential get-out-of-jail-free cards if shit ever hits the fan.

Nope. I've always seen it the other way around. A bunch of Chinese guys hanging around foreigners in bars and clubs. Trying to hook up with the girls who aren't pretty enough to make it with the foreigner. I'm friends with some good dudes. They never ask for anything from me and never try to show off our close relationship. Real friends!

I see the reverse, where the monkey treats his owner, It's called ass kissing, done every where, at every level, Owners might occasionally kiss their monkey, but highly unlikely,
Bottom level employees, ,I always hated ass kissers at work,,, usually petty little snitches making big deals out of nothing.
Middle management, kissing their bosses for that next promotion, one that he doesn't deserve, but then his boss is an idiot who probably got his job this way,
And so on up the ladder. Buy you dinner , make a deal.
In China, all I saw were people hanging mostly around for the free meals that i paid for. I never saw any of the argue over paying the bill politeness I read about. I paid for every drink, meal or snack.
BTW i'd love to be some little honeys pet,, I just don't want to be neutered.