A while back I watched a fascinating show on food in China. There were housecats in cages and snakes in pits with metal covers. Also rats, rabbits and dogs. All at the food market.
The images from that show haunt me to this day. I am not a vegan, so I have no problem with them eating whatever floats their boat. However, if animals are going to be slaughtered for food or fur/skin/leather whatever, let's try to do it in the most humane way possible.
Agreed, the Chinese are somewhat ... heartless??... when it comes to their table fare.
My guide in Guangzhou said "Chinese would eat anything with four legs - except the table and anything with wings and a tail - except an airplane."