Apple iPhones: The possible ban threatens to erode Apple’s position in a market
Beijing:
China flagged security concerns with iPhones while saying it would not ban purchases. These are the government’s first comments on the subject following news reports that authorities are taking steps to ban the use of Apple Inc. products. in sensitive departments and state-owned enterprises.
“We have noticed that there have been many media reports of security incidents involving Apple phones,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference in Beijing, without elaborating.
China plans to expand its ban on iPhone use to a plethora of state-backed companies and agencies, Bloomberg News previously reported, a sign of growing challenges for Apple in its largest foreign market and global manufacturing base. Several agencies have begun instructing their staff not to bring their iPhones to work.
“China has not issued any laws and regulations to ban the purchase of phones from Apple or foreign brands,” Mao said, adding that the government attaches “great importance” to safety and that all companies operating in China adhere to the have to keep laws and rules. .
Mao’s comments on security incidents were slightly different in the official English translation of the news briefing. In that translation, which was delivered on site at the same time by the ministry, the reference to ‘media reports’ was omitted. State Department briefings are usually tightly controlled and spokespersons’ answers are usually recorded in advance.
The press conference came just hours after Apple unveiled its latest model of the big device, the iPhone 15. The company unveiled four new models, keeping pace with past generations: the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max .
If Beijing goes ahead with an iPhone ban, the unprecedented blockage will be the culmination of a yearslong effort to eradicate the use of foreign technology in sensitive environments, coinciding with Beijing’s push to reduce its dependence on U.S. software and circuitry .
It threatens to erode Apple’s position in a market that generates about a fifth of its sales, and from which Apple makes the majority of the world’s iPhones through sprawling factories that employ millions of Chinese.
