Page 11 of the Rulebook: “You must collect income if you can, but all other parts of the turn sequence are voluntary.”
Bonus income from NOs is income, so it must also be collected.
Ok what are things you can do in a seven player game if you get shafted being China? So far the best thing I can think of is everythime someone makes a mistake with one of the other nations say “that’s not what I would have done”. Or turn it into a drinking game, everytime China loses a territory take a shot.
When the Soviets or British bring in forces they could be converted to Chinese forces and used, or give the axis a few bucks for the option of moving the fighter before Japan moves.
Smoke a bowl…