China Scrutinizing Apple, Among Other US Tech Companies

Two Apple services, iTunes Movies and the iBooks Store, were shut down in China. They were viewded to compete directly with Chinese Internet companies' products. Mr. Xi, the chinese President, has increased censorship and added policies to keep tabs on electronic communication. His aim is to "ensure high-quality content with positive voices creating a healthy, positive culture that is a force for good".

This shutdown of Apple's services is just one of many examples of Mr. Xi's crackdown on Western ideology, which is against Chinese interests in protecting the content viewed by Chinese people, polocing its national security and favoring indigenous giants. The shutdown shows that Apple may be vulnerable to the scrutiny that other American tech companies, including Cisco, IBM and Microsoft, have faced in recent years.

While China may temporarily see impressive welfare gains from its country's improvement of global tech productions, its exclusion of foreign tech companies, such as Apple, may consequently lead to a heavy economic loss and distressed global connections.


Jessy Krempp

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/technology/apple-no-longer-immune-to-chinas-scrutiny-of-us-tech-firms.html?ref=asia&_r=0