"PCs installed with the pirated copies of Windows include well-known brands Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, among other Chinese computer makers. It is understood that the pirated OSs are likely installed by a third party who preloads Windows over the non-Windows OS that are originally on these machines when they leave the factory."

Ah, the irony. Try getting a machine in the US from these vendors WITHOUT Windows pre-installed. Yet countries where other OSs are preloaded, pirates turn around and load Windows. Why don't the vendors just switch distribution channels?

Paul's article mentions it briefly at the end, but there's nothing unique to China about pirating software.