Chinese agencies and state-backed companies have been increasingly instructing their employees to avoid using Apple iPhones and other foreign-made devices at work. According to a report by Bloomberg News, this initiative has been observed across various regions of the country and is based on information from individuals familiar with the situation.
This move is part of China’s broader strategy to diminish its reliance on foreign technologies, a policy that has been in place for over a decade. Chinese state-affiliated firms, including banks, have been encouraged to adopt local software solutions and support domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing. The recent developments suggest a shift towards using locally manufactured mobile devices as well.
Bloomberg News reported that in recent months, several state firms and government departments across at least eight provinces have issued directives to their employees to start using local brands. This shift is particularly noteworthy as it includes regions like Hebei, home to the world’s largest iPhone factory, where similar instructions have been given.
Back in December, smaller firms and agencies in less prominent cities from provinces such as Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning, and Hebei issued verbal directives to this effect. In contrast, Chinese officials in September denied reports of a complete ban on iPhones in government agencies. However, they did express concerns over security incidents linked to Apple’s phones. The United States government has labeled China’s restrictive actions on iPhones as “inappropriate retaliation.”
While the full extent and enforcement of this ban on foreign devices, including iPhones, remain unclear, Bloomberg News highlights that the implications for companies like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. are significant.