re: Short Astronauts
If *I* were Chinese, I would deliberately avoid having a couch that round-eyes could fit. I would practice launching and establish a routine return-to-space capability.
Then, when next the Russians and Americans have one of their kindergarten disputes about who will fly to the ISS (Not Sho\uttle, because it's too dangerous, and not Soyuz, because they can't afford more than the original plan, and the USA won't pay them a cent for political reasons)...
When next this happens, I would launch a "rescue" mission to ISS and claim salvage rights from Lloyd's of London.
Possession is nine points of the law...