how am I suppose to have a burner bank account to use with it? don't forget mobile number are associated with your identity in China
Isn’t this true everywhere, just not effectively enforced?
You are generally supposed to provide ID and a street address to the phone company when your number is activated. Some places treat that as just a formality and will take any number and address in the right format, but at least in the EU it’s the law and they have to “require” it.
Are straight-up burner phones a la “The Wire” still a thing in the US?
Of course. Why would you have to provide an ID to buy a prepaid SIM card?