That is not the TSA doing the checks though. In Beijing, there is gate screening just as you described, but it is done by locals who don't speak English, and they definitely aren't looking for cash.
Based on reports from flyertalk and other places, it appears that there is a requirement that a certain minimum percentage of US-bound international passengers undergo at least a TSA-style boarding-pass-and-ID check.
Typically this involves stationing agents at the departure gate. Anecdotal evidence suggests AMS is a popular place for this.
