Not being an expert on paint by any stretch … wouldn’t it be cheaper for the Chinese to paint things with lead free paint (lead cost money)? What is the advantage in including lead in their paint? Durability perhaps?
Except for that whole chronic disease and lingering death thing, lead is a great material for paint. It is soluable, and dries like a nice pliable metal. The paint chalks off little by little revealing a constantly renewed surface coat, so it looks great for years.
Wonderful stuff, except for the fact that it can kill you and turn your children into idiots.