Miscellaneous News

Bellum_Romanum

Brigadier
Registered Member
Not sure this ban makes a lot of sense. After all, iPhones are largely manufactured in China and other (non-HW) Chinese phone brands also use non-Chinese chips.
It doesn't make sense in terms of what? From what angle are you looking this recent action from? National security real or imagined? Or the action can be interpreted from a point of view that Chinese government is becoming more confident regarding its ability to withstand further tech sanctions from America? The Chinese government action can be seen as a ploy to gain more support and confidence from their domestic audience which is the most important constituency to attract. Maybe, it's designed as a warning shot on what's in store as things to come for American giant tech companies like Apple in the future, since it's been reported that Apple lost close or past $200 Billion in market valuation after the report of ban was announced.
 

sndef888

Captain
Registered Member
As long as Apple is still mainly manufactured in China, then a total ban shouldn't be implemented unless the US intensified the sanctions to the extent that China has to response.

However, banning Apple from the government agencies and state owned companies are actually a good move. Firstly, it is a warning for Apple that its intent to decouple with China means losing the Chinese market forever. Secondly, it is a response of a complete ban of Huawei and many Chinese companies from the US central and state and local government in the name of national security. China has its own national security concerns and would response accordingly.
There should be a clear escalation ladder conveyed to Apple. The more they decouple, the more their products get banned.
 

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
It doesn't make sense in terms of what? From what angle are you looking this recent action from? National security real or imagined? Or the action can be interpreted from a point of view that Chinese government is becoming more confident regarding its ability to withstand further tech sanctions from America? The Chinese government action can be seen as a ploy to gain more support and confidence from their domestic audience which is the most important constituency to attract. Maybe, it's designed as a warning shot on what's in store as things to come for American giant tech companies like Apple in the future, since it's been reported that Apple lost close or past $200 Billion in market valuation after the report of ban was announced.
Firstly, a ban on Apple means less jobs and money in its China-based suppliers, etc. Secondly, the security risk would appear to be not much greater than any (non-HW) Chinese smartphone brand.
 

Sardaukar20

Captain
Registered Member
I didn't hear or watch anything that implied what you've implied on your post though. While it's understandable the logic of your annoyance and the potential development of an anti-China quasi alliance with respect to the disputed waters in the SCS in conjunction with India, I really don't see the threat for now in that regard. Unless, the economic and technical progress of India comes close to their much hyped potential, I don't foresee India making enough contributions of actual meaning and impact against China's firm and entrenched position in the SCS against any and all claimants.
We can see from the thumbnail, that Kamala Harris was there too. So this India-ASEAN SCS thing is definitely coordinated and brokered by the US. While India is nothing like the US when it comes to lending defense assistance to SEA nations, it is becoming a contributor to the US's own SCS grand strategy against China. India had recently sold Brahmos missiles to the PH and given a warship to Vietnam. Again, nothing like the US and South Korea, but its a start. Now, I know that Indian weapons are vastly overhyped junk, but its their hype that can breed overconfidence, like in the PH. The PH had most recently made joint statements with India about their anti-China SCS stance. India ultimately wants to join the US to meddle in the SCS disputes. And this is somehow gaining momentum, because some SEA leaders wanna act tough on China.

Would this India-ASEAN thing go anywhere? I don't think so. But some leader in SEA may get stupid enough to think he can take on China, just because he has the backing of US, Japan, SK, and India. Malaysia is currently led by Anwar Ibrahim. He is making a stupid move, but I don't think he will go too far to antagonize China. But the opposition in Malaysia are Sinophobic Islamic fanatic idiots. If they get into power, by coup or by elections 4 years later, they could inherit this QUAD-ASEAN thing and be emboldened to provoke China.

ASEANs mentality and its approach to foreign policy just simply mirrors their western patrons and masters that most Asians looked upto until maybe recently, that's just not disputable. The way ASEAN countries look at their foreign policy have a western bias, along with mindset and outlook to a certain degree. But this is understandable. The modern iteration of post war II Japan didn't do much in actual shaping, molding, and building an Asian narrative; it happily played and trumpeted the western values shtick and worked on their propaganda to soften their criminality and genocidal actions during much of the 20th century.

The assisting and development of ASEAN as an organization was a western led creation and initiative if am not mistaken, so why would then expect such organization to reorient its approach on a more pro-China/Asian centric approach when China's current foreing policy orientation leaves countries politically vulnerable from foreign funded NGOs that have operated from these countries and honed their expertise for decades?
Yes, this is unfortunately true. I only hope that this doesn't lead to any war. But the PH situation is getting more concerning as time goes by.
 

KYli

Brigadier
Firstly, a ban on Apple means less jobs and money in its China-based suppliers, etc. Secondly, the security risk would appear to be not much greater than any (non-HW) Chinese smartphone brand.
Apple has started moving its manufacturing and Chinese supplies to other countries. Many Chinese companies have been under pressure from Apple to move their supply chain to Vietnam or India. What makes you think a ban would mean less jobs for China if Apple already implemented the decoupling to begin with.

Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo all have their own android OS which means these devices are less likely to be hacked and spied upon than Apple. Apple is a completely closed system that totally controlled by Apple which means national security risks.
 

Phead128

Major
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Denying market access is different from ending supply chain with Apple.

US denied Huawei market access in US, but still allowed Qualcomm and Micron to supply components to Huawei.

In other words, no imports, only exports. Of course they can try to find a replacement supplier, but that won't be easy. At what cost?
 

GZDRefugee

Junior Member
Registered Member
Apple has started moving its manufacturing and Chinese supplies to other countries. Many Chinese companies have been under pressure from Apple to move their supply chain to Vietnam or India. What makes you think a ban would mean less jobs for China if Apple already implemented the decoupling to begin with.

Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo all have their own android OS which means these devices are less likely to be hacked and spied upon than Apple. Apple is a completely closed system that totally controlled by Apple which means national security risks.
The CPC pushing for widespread RISC-V adoption is just another one of their visionary choices IMO.
 

Abominable

Major
Registered Member
Indeed very old thing, foreign mobile phones not only Apple have been banned in government since at least somewhere around 2017, I know this from people in the military.
Given that most Chinese phones run Android, how much safer are they really going to be?
 

measuredingabens

Junior Member
Registered Member
Funny, sad , and irritating that the comment sections of many articles/reddit gets close down because of Americans unable to cope or just plain being racist.
I'm pretty sure Reddit thrives on racism and coping. The posts I glimpsed there on the Mate60 news is the kind of ignorance and bigotry that constitutes an active cognitohazard that should be cordoned off and purged lest it lowers your intelligence.
 
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