Yes, 联程客票 is the term used in the official Chinese regulations, and while it certainly could be read to require a single ticket with connecting flights, there has never been a report here of officials adopting that interpretation. I'm pretty sure, though, that there was one report here of an airline check-in clerk adopting that view. But with 6000 posts in this thread I am not going to look for it.
I think technically 联程客票 just means interlining so it certainly does not imply a single reservation.