Employer Wants Me to Travel On Tourist Visa

After couple of interviews I am offered a teaching position in China. GTE helped me with this job. They want me to travel on tourist type and that once I get there, they would be applying for my work permit.

I keep telling them that it is not workable to come on tourist type, since I wont have any job security and that whats the surety I will be getting the job. They convinced me that I should be travelling on tourist type. They will take care of the rest.
Please advise.
Aspiring teacher