Foreign media reported that the Chinese government is expanding its ban on using foreign-brand mobile phones such as Apple’s iPhone.
It is aimed at iPhones, but it is expected that Samsung Electronics’ smartphone Galaxy will also have a firestorm.
Bloomberg reported on the 16th (local time), citing a well-informed source, that a number of state-owned companies and government departments in at least eight provinces in China have instructed their employees to use home-grown mobile phones for work in the past month or two.
The region has high economic power, including Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces. Hebei Province, where the world’s largest iPhone factory is located, was also included.
The same instructions were reportedly issued verbally to employees of small public institutions in sub-cities in these provinces.
This is an expansion of the ban on foreign-branded mobile phones issued to officials in Beijing and Tianjin in September.
Coupled with the resurgence of the popularity of Chinese smartphone maker Huawei, it is believed that the Chinese government is strengthening its efforts to break away from its technology dependence on the U.S. The U.S. has been increasing the level of checks on China, including control of high-tech exports. Bloomberg said it is unclear how many government agencies have issued such guidelines, but it is a serious challenge to Samsung and Apple, which are trying to sustain their growth in China.
China’s unprecedented move could cost Apple and Samsung a portion of the world’s largest mobile phone market.
Samsung Electronics, which reportedly has a small share of China’s smartphone market, is feared to face even more difficult sales environment. Apple depends on China for 20 percent of its sales.
Earlier, Bloomberg News, citing data from market research firm GfK, said that sales of iPhone 15 in China fell 6% in September from the same period last year. It was analyzed that the Chinese government’s ban on iPhone use and Huawei’s sensation were reflected.
Apple and Chinese authorities did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment.
When the iPhone ban was reported in foreign media in September, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning denied the government-level ban, saying, “China has not issued laws, laws, and policy documents prohibiting the purchase and use of foreign brand mobile phones such as Apple.”
Sally Lee
US ASIA JOURNAL
