In a bid to reduce reliance on technologies developed by other countries, several state-backed Chinese agencies and companies have issued directives prohibiting their staff from bringing Apple’s iPhones and other foreign-made devices to work. This move spans across eight provinces, including Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning, and central Hebei, home to the world’s largest iPhone factory.
Staff members in multiple firms and government departments have been verbally instructed to use devices made by local brands instead. This directive extends to ministries and government bodies, with employees urged not to use iPhones during work hours, as reported by Reuters in September.
The decision is perceived as an effort to bolster domestic companies, particularly Huawei, which recently launched the Mate 60 Pro smartphone. China’s push for self-reliance in technology has led to calls for state-affiliated firms, including banks, to adopt local software and promote the manufacturing of domestic semiconductor chips.
Both the United States and China have expressed concerns about the security risks posed by each other’s tech companies, fearing potential leaks of sensitive data. In May of this year, China urged big state-owned enterprises to play a pivotal role in achieving self-reliance in technology, intensifying the competition amid ongoing rifts with the United States.
