The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday( Sept. 6) citing sources with knowledge of the situation that China has ordered authorities at central government companies not to use Apple smartphones or other foreign-branded devices for work or take them into the office.
According to the WSJ, the orders were given to their employees by leaders in recent weeks, and it was unclear how frequently they were being dispersed.
The ban comes before an Apple event scheduled for next week that analysts predict will focus on the introduction of a new line of handsets. As Sino-US tensions rise, this event may cause concern among international businesses operating in China.
The WSJ document did not mention any other smartphone manufacturers besides Apple. Reuters’ requests for comment were not promptly answered by Apple or China’s State Council Information Office, which handles internet inquiries on behalf of the Chinese authorities.
China has been working to lessen its reliance on foreign systems for more than ten years, urging state-affiliated companies like banks to switch to local applications and promoting the production of chips at home.
As Beijing’s concern over information security increased in 2020, its leaders proposed a so-called” double flow” growth model to lessen reliance on foreign markets and technology.
In order to achieve self-reliance in technology, China urged large state-owned enterprises( SOEs ) in May, raising the stakes in the race amid tensions with the US.
As Beijing restricts shipments from well-known US companies like planemaker Boeing and chip business Micron Technology and Washington works with allies to prevent China’s access to essential equipment needed to keep its chip industry dynamic, Sino-US tensions have been higher.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo claimed that during a trip to China last year, US firms had complained to her that China had turned” uninvestible ,” citing charges, attacks and other activities that have made it difficult to conduct business in the second-largest market.
The most recent restraint by China is in line with similar sanctions imposed in the US against Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei Technologies and Chinese-owned ByteDance short video platform TikTok.
One of Apple’s largest industry, China accounts for almost one-fifth of its profits. & nbsp,