By all accounts, that sounds like a China gig. Not even the most shady.

In all seriousness, good luck. From reading your posts, I figure you probably have enough "screw you" money, so as not to get stranded; but there's always an element of caution when it comes to gigs abroad. I had a series of things in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Guantanamo Bay, and Iraq fall through about 10 years ago due to poor contract negotiations (the last two were USO gigs). Before that, it seemed like a sure deal. Afterward, I was left to wonder how common something like that was. In the last few years, I've seen most touring gigs fall through, among people in my circles. That's a scary prospect, when one thinks about the longevity of a musical profession - seeing people get the shaft left and right. It's left me attempting to think about things in more business-oriented terms, which end up being far from any artistic thoughts whatsoever. In fact, in a lot of ways, I feel like a factory worker on the verge of employment turmoil.

We both know it's a dying profession, but we both ride it out. There's a life span on it, but if someone is smart about it, they can be one of the last people to bow-out toward the end, before it ceases to draw a profit. After all, while it may be enjoyable, nobody has ever found a power company who accepts payment in good vibes. Information exchange as vastly altered what people expect out of everything in life, and through a tangled web of reconsiderations, the industry of performing arts will wither.

A side note: have you considered maintaining a ration of MREs? They're generally compact, and will serve as a meal if you're low of resources. I'd avoid the silly consumer ones, and just opt for actual military surplus. If you buy them in bulk, you can get a great price on them, and utilize the convenience of easily-managed mass packaging. They may become boring, or simply not be conducive to well-rounded nutrition; but if you're strapped, you at least have the option.