You compromise ...

If just flying in Business class is all you want, then opt for other less known carriers but still those who offer a good business class product. Okay it may not be affiliated with AAdvanatge, but you get a business class product.

CX hardly discounts anymore, and in order to get special fares, you may try going through one of those ethnic asian travel agencies who may be able to offer some sort of discounts for you.

Or if you think that you will be travelling to asia a bit, then perhaps you may flip your tickets, ie buy a oneway from USA to asia and from asia , a return to USA which is usually considerably cheaper than originating from USA.

You'd have to search through the forums here and in Miles Buzz to check up on fares originating from asia for deals.

Otherwise you'd have to perhaps take out a Starwood account and exchange points with miles into an Asiamiles account which you may then purchase a cheap economy class ticket and then use the miles for upgrades.