what airline is the safest in china?

If you're flying out of UK, then I would recommend British Airways or Cathay Pacific, because British Airways have more flights fliying out of UK and Cathay has more flight going into HK.

According to http://www.airsafe.com/ the safest ones are emirates and and qantas, then BA.

Use the above website click on the area the air plane company in the Fatal Events by Region area.

All those airlines you list are safe.

The most recent one to crash on a China flight was British Airways. It crashed on landing in London, but no one was killed.

Chinese Airlines are quite safe largely because they have the newest fleet in the world.

I suggest Cathay Pacific, good captains and excellent services by an international crew, Don't let other airlines spoil your holidays.

Other than BA
Emirates has the best service and is safe
Even Air China are safe I fly with them alot now as they are often cheaper, direct too.
Cathay are good for service but a bit dear.
SAS and KLM are ok too but Air France..the air crew were pretty snotty.
In China I usually fly Southern or China Eastern.

you best take a boat to china, if china flying your plane good chance youll crash, then again if china steering your boat might sink like titanic ;)