The Chinese government has officially stated that it has not implemented any restrictions on the sale or use of Apple’s iPhone.According to a spokesperson from the Chinese government, there are currently no laws or regulations in place in China that prohibit the use of iPhones or any other foreign phone brands. This statement was made on Wednesday.
At a press conference in Beijing, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed our longstanding commitment to fostering an environment that is receptive to foreign companies. We extend a warm invitation to them to capitalize on the numerous opportunities available and partake in the benefits derived from China’s robust economic growth.
She mentioned that China has taken note of numerous media reports regarding the security incidents associated with Apple’s iPhone. Furthermore, they emphasized that the country places significant importance on information and cybersecurity.
Mao did not provide further details or explanations. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of foreign cellphone companies operating in China adhering to the country’s privacy laws and taking necessary measures to prevent any unauthorized access or data breaches of their customers’ stored data.
According to an article published by The Wall Street Journal last week, the Chinese government has implemented a ban on the utilization of iPhones among central government officials. Unnamed sources who are knowledgeable about the situation provided the information. However, the publication of the report resulted in a decline in the value of Apple’s shares, leading to the stock experiencing its most significant daily decrease in a month.
The White House expressed its concern on Wednesday regarding the ongoing developments.
“The actions taken by the People’s Republic of China appear to be consistent with the aggressive and inappropriate retaliatory measures that we have witnessed in the past against US companies,” stated John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, during a press conference.
However, it is important to acknowledge that our current level of insight into their activities and motivations is not comprehensive. Therefore, we strongly urge them to enhance their transparency regarding their observations and actions.
In recent months, an increasing number of American and international consulting firms have become entangled in Beijing’s expanding efforts to address perceived national security concerns.
Chinese authorities closed the Beijing office of the American corporate due diligence firm Mintz Group in March and detained five of its local employees. The company incurred a fine of approximately $1.5 million following allegations of engaging in unauthorized statistical activities within the country.
In the month of April, law enforcement authorities conducted an inquiry with the personnel employed at the Shanghai premises of Bain & Company, a renowned multinational consulting firm. Several weeks later, state media disclosed information regarding a series of raids conducted by state security forces on the premises of Capvision, an international expert network firm headquartered in Shanghai and New York.
Apple is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and well-established American brands in the Chinese market. China serves as the company’s largest international market for its products, with Chinese sales accounting for approximately 20% of the company’s total revenue in the previous year. Apple has not responded to a request for comment.
The company does not publicly disclose iPhone sales figures by country. However, analysts at research firm TechInsights have estimated that the number of iPhone sales in China exceeded those in the United States during the last quarter. Apple primarily manufactures the majority of its iPhones in factories located in China.
