Don't assume malice. This would be considered completely normal in China, both legally and culturally. You would a have hard time explaining the concept of privacy to them. This is likely not some big conspiracy.
The flip side of that argument is that the fastest way to explain the concept of privacy to a manufacturer that spies on you, is to stop buying their devices. Consumers don't need to assume a conspiracy in order to communicate their preferences.
Except they know they are exporting thus have to tailor their product to local law. The idea that all these Chinese leaks are just accidental oversights is fairly naive, especially in the light of China's industrial espionage efforts.