On the China State Regulatory Commission web site (basically the Chinese version of the FCC), the government has apparently approved a GSM/WCDMA cell phone complete with Bluetooth, an internal model number A1324 by Apple. According to Engadget, the device was approved on May 7, 2009 with the approval certificate set to expire in five years.
That being said, China Unicom should have plenty of time to capitalize on its reported three-year deal to offer the phone in mainland China.
This was reported on O’Grady’s Power Page and is very probably correct. Which means China will have the iPhone. When is still uncertain, but you can bet serious money on the fact it will be this year.