I think if you reflect on "contracts mean nothing and guanxi with people in power is everything" you may find the seed to an answer.

China has 1.4 billion people. There are many that will follow a contract or work with you to adjust agreements to both parties' mutual benefit.

If you are leveraging guanxi, ask yourself why you feel it is ok to further empower a person that is causing harm to society. There are many in China that do represent your values. When you engage in guanxi, you are "feeding the dragon": empowering the wrong people and dis-empowering the right people.

note: when I say "you", I don't mean you personally.