Arguably, the prominent inclusion of a black character was conceived of as a move to adapt to the US market. The racial diversity of the US is inescapable and it is undeniable that movie studios are open to criticism if they fail to reflect that diversity.
But there is no such diversity in China. If you think of a movie poster as being valuable real estate for the promotion of movie tickets and merchandise, there is no percentage to be gained by highlighting a black character to the Chinese public ... but a big percentage to be gained in promoting toys.
The lapse in judgement, if that's what you want to call it, was in forgetting that the internet exists, and that people are going to be pretty much onto you and on your back in about 3 seconds if you have left yourself open to accusations of pandering, exploitation, insensitivity, or whatever.
I imagine that MANY movies have significant, eyebrow-raising differences between their US and international posters, if you cared to compare them.
National Geographic magazine raised the curtain a few years ago to illustrate the differences in their cover art between US and international markets and it said a lot. Basically, they tried to put the US flag and other patriotic US images on as many covers as possible for sales in the lower 48, and anything BUT those things on magazines that they hoped to sell outside of the USA. Pandering? Yes ... but the cargo cult just doesn't sell like it used to.
