China has ordered government officials not to use iPhones and other devices from foreign companies for business purposes, nor to bring them to the office (according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter).
In previous weeks, superiors have given instructions to staff through chat groups or workplace meetings.
China's ban comes ahead of an event next week, where the new iPhone 15. This news could cause concern for foreign companies operating in China.
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The WSJ report on the ban on the use of foreign smartphones only mentions Apple by name and not other phone manufacturers.
It is worth noting that for several years China has sought to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies, asking state-owned organizationssuch as banks to switch to domestic software. At the same time, it is trying to promote domestic chip.
This effort was reinforced in 2020, when China's leaders proposed a so-called "dual circulation" development model to reduce dependence on foreign markets and technology, as concerns about data security grew.
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In May, China urged large state-owned enterprises to play a key role in its drive to achieve self-reliance in technology.
These moves show that tensions between China and the US are increasing, as the US has also been trying in recent years to block China's access to vital technological equipment
China's decision to ban government employees from using iPhones is significant, considering the country is one of Apple's largest markets , generating nearly a fifth of its revenue. The Asian country is also a major manufacturing hub for Apple devices.
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However, no immediate impact on Apple's profits is expected, considering the popularity of the iPhone in general in China.
However, this ban mirrors similar bans imposed in the United States against Chinese smartphone maker Huawei Technologies and the popular TikTok platform , owned by China's ByteDance.
These moves demonstrate the growing tension between the two countries.
Source: www.reuters.com
