The Chinese government bans more officials from using iPhones. A symbolic measure against Apple which echoes the American sanctions against Huawei.
China and the United States are waging a relentless war of influence. This crystallizes in particular around the American sanctions imposed on Huawei. A case that is picking up steam since the release of the Mate 60 Pro, suspected of having violated the embargo. Opposite, Beijing does not sit idly by and recently decided to show its teeth against Apple.
According to the wall street journal, more Chinese government officials are no longer allowed to use or have an iPhone with them while at work. According to media sources, employees were notified through group messages or in meetings. This ban comes the week before the announcement of the new iPhone 15s.
THE wall street journal recalls that the Chinese authorities have for years restricted the use of iPhones with certain officials, but that this ban has been extended to more people, without being able to specify how many exactly. In addition, we do not yet know the official motivations for strengthening this measure, but it seems to echo the American embargo against Huawei and the measures taken against the TikTok application for national security reasons.
The sources of the American newspaper, however, evoke an intensification of the efforts made to ensure that the rules are well respected.
Small blow for Apple
Admittedly, the measure may seem quite anecdotal in itself, but it is still a tackle against Apple. Tim Cook had however traveled to China during the month of March to meet the Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. The objective of the meeting was to stabilize the activities of the apple firm in the country where there are many production lines.
Despite this interview, and only five months later, Apple sees its iPhone banned from use among Chinese officials. The apple firm therefore finds itself embroiled in spite of itself in geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
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