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Let's cautiously assume that China also does this.

Open-source hardware would be great at counteracting this (and for other reasons), but it's harder than open-source software.

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That's why China built their own OS on top of an open-source BSD. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylin_(operating_system)

Nowadays it's Linux though, according to the article.

Ecosystem effects most likely. Most users prefer new features over stability or security. Theirs must be the same. They've followed in the U.S.'s footsteps it seems where DOD & "Trusted UNIX" vendors started with stronger stuff then gradually moved to weaker ones (esp Linux-based) for kernel features or specific apps.

> Open-source hardware would be great at counteracting this (and for other reasons)

This is actually the crux and to my knowledge is non-existent.

Not just open hardware, you need trustworthy fabs:

https://lwn.net/Articles/688751/

Some folks trying to do open hardware:

http://riscv.org/ http://www.lowrisc.org/

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