Most of this "spies" are trying to escape China ! all the regime did was offer them more money / opportunity than what they went to the West to find.
China could have achieved it through "turing" normal white citizens too / but I guess they are the real patriots ? Mark Zukerburg learnt mandarin for god's sake.
Its a game among capitalists and most of us regardless of nationality will switch sides to whoever gives the most value.
Your second sentence directly contradicts the first. The "spies" aren't escaping China - they're playing whatever side has more money to throw at them.
Considering most people spend 8+ hours a day working for money, I'd say yes, everyone is driven by money above all things.
Just look at the millineals, I mean, excuse me, new college grads. They shit talk Facebook's ethics, but the moment they receive a $100,000 job offer from Facebook, their ethics go out the window and they accept the offer from this "shady-ass" company.