“One of the world’s largest technology conglomerates has amassed significant power and billions of dollars from its deals in China, a country often firmly opposed to the values the company’s leadership regularly espouses domestically,” Eric Lieberman and Ryan Pickrell write for The Daily Caller. “Apple Inc. made headlines recently for capitulating to the Chinese government while its CEO argues against President Donald Trump’s agenda at home.”
“However, the company gave way to Beijing decades ago when it moved much of its manufacturing and assembly processes to China from other parts of Asia” Lieberman and Pickrell write. “Pursuing profit and power, the company made arrangements with the only country that could help it become what it is today, even if doing so potentially conflicted with certain company values.”
“Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, who defends progressive liberal causes, has made significant concessions to Beijing over the past year, in some cases contributing to the suppression of human rights and internet freedom. Apple has repeatedly yielded ground to the Chinese government, giving in to its demands, even as China engages in some unethical business practices to drive the tech company out of the country and reduce its market share,” Lieberman and Pickrell write. “Cook, who sits on the board of a human rights foundation, played an important role in moving Apple’s production and assembly activities to China. Since Apple jumped in bed with China, it has made billions of dollars in profits and built an enormous technology empire.”
“Apple, specifically its leadership, has tried to present the company as more than just a capitalist corporate giant. Apple’s CEO has advocated for human rights and progressive agendas by arguing against the transgender ban, the travel ban, and other Trump policies,” Lieberman and Pickrell write. “But given the opportunity, the company chose a clear path to more power and revenue by making a deal with China.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote last week, “It’s quite the razor-thin tightrope that Tim Cook, Apple CEO, privacy proponent, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ Board of Directors Member, has to walk.”
China is critical for Apple in every way from sales to product assembly, so Apple continues to kowtow to China. With Apple’s strong stance – in other places of the world – on users’ rights and privacy, it’s a bad look for the company and a tough tightrope that Tim Cook is trying to walk. — MacDailyNews, July 29, 2017
If we were Tim Cook, we’d be pushing manufacturing out of China as quickly as possible and into places that are more in tune with with Apple’s values of privacy, human rights, and the environment. Call it “Hypocrisy Mitigation.” We’d even take a temporary hit on margins – gasp! – in exchange for goodwill.
Tim Cook’s comments regarding China’s latest censorship effort during Apple’s Q317 earnings conference call with analysts on Tuesday, August 1, 2017:
Turning to China, let me comment on what I assumed is at the root of your question about this VPN issue. Let me just address that head on. The central government in China back in 2015 started tightening the regulations associated with VPN apps, and we have a number of those on our store. Essentially, as a requirement for someone to operate a VPN, they have to have a license from the government there. Earlier this year, they began a renewed effort to enforce that policy, and we were required by the government to remove some of the VPN apps from the App Store that don’t meet these new regulations. We understand that those same requirements are on other app stores, and as we checked through that, that is the case.
Today there are actually still hundreds of VPN apps on the App Store, including hundreds by developers that are outside China, and so there continues to be VPN apps available. We would obviously rather not remove the apps, but like we do in other countries, we follow the law wherever we do business. And we strongly believe that participating in markets and bringing benefits to customers is in the best interest of the folks there and in other countries as well. And so we believe in engaging with governments even when we disagree.
And in this particular case, now back to commenting on this one, we’re hopeful that over time the restrictions that we’re seeing are loosened because innovation really requires freedom to collaborate and communicate, and I know that that is a major focus there. And so that’s what we’re seeing from that point of view.
Some folks have tried to link it to the U.S. situation last year, and they’re very different. In the case of the U.S., the law in the U.S. supported us, which was very clear. In the case of China, the law is also very clear there. And, like we would if the U.S. changed the law here, we’d have to abide by them in both cases; that doesn’t mean that we don’t state our point of view in the appropriate way. We always do that.
SEE ALSO:
China’s dream is Apple’s nightmare: U.S. tech firms face risks as they quietly bow to China’s censorship and technology demands – August 9, 2017
As Apple’s services business grows in China, so does its censorship risk – August 3, 2017
Joining Apple, Amazon’s China cloud service bows to censors – August 1, 2017
There are two sides to Apple’s China story – July 31, 2017
Apple issues statement regarding removal of VPN apps from China App Store – July 31, 2017
Apple removes VPN apps from China App Store – July 29, 2017
Apple sets up China data center to meet new cybersecurity rules – July 12, 2017
Analyst: China iPhone sales are pivotal for Apple – June 26, 2017
In bid to improve censorship, China to summon Apple execs to discuss stricter App Store oversight – April 20, 2017
Will Apple CEO Tim Cook stand up to China over App Store censorship? – April 19, 2017
Beijing cyber regulators to summon Apple over live streaming apps – April 19, 2017
Apple goes on charm offensive in China with red iPhones and a visit by CEO Tim Cook – March 24, 2017
Apple CEO Tim Cook defends globalization, walks tightrope on privacy in rare public speech in China – March 18, 2017
Apple to spend $507 million to set up two more research centers, boost investment in in China – March 17, 2017
Apple removes New York Times apps from App Store in China at behest of Chinese government – January 4, 2017
China dethrones U.S. to become the largest market in the world for iOS App Store revenue – October 20, 2016
Apple to set up second R&D center in China – October 12, 2016
Apple’s first R&D Center in China will develop hardware, employ 500 – September 29, 2016
Apple CEO Cook ‘pretty confident’ of soon resuming movie and book sales in China – May 3, 2016
Apple’s biggest China problem: iPhone’s strong encryption – May 2, 2016
The New Yorker: What Apple has to fear from China – April 30, 2016
Carl Icahn out of Apple over worries about China’s ‘dictatorship’ government – April 29, 2016
China could slam door on Apple, says top global risk expert – April 25, 2016
China’s increasing censorship hits Apple, but Apple might punch back – April 22, 2016
China shutters Apple’s online book and movie services – April 22, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook joins Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ board of directors – April 6, 2016
[Attribution: MacSurfer. Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
In other words, Cook is a hypocrite.
It’s the same reason we continue to be “friends” with Saudi Arabia. Money talks.
you are a rabid Islamaphobe!
Nice try, Botty. I just recognize the reality that America’s corporate business interests have almost ALWAYS come first over America’s moral leadership.
I don’t like it, but I accept the truth when I see it.
I was being facetious, ObtuseGuy.
Can never tell with you!! 🙂
Hand-chopping and theocratic Saudi Arabia, the US’s close friend, exports Salafi Jihadists and finances their Madrasas where they major in Sharia law, exporting it world-wide, even into the US.
“Apple Inc. made headlines recently for capitulating to the Chinese government while its CEO argues against President Donald Trump’s agenda at home.”
Years in the making, it all comes together in a nutshell. So boys and girls, all together now, how do you spell HYPOCRITE?
Agree with MDN, move ALL Apple manufacturing back to the good old USA. Long overdue to cut the China cord. Same goes for Samesung.
What we need is a conservative Apple CEO to take over and work with President Trump, smiles not frowns, and get this done A.S.A.P. Including remaking tax corporate policy.
Sorry, snowflakes. Don’t cry, just a dream thought that will never happen.
USA! USA! USA! … 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
MacDailyNews did not say, “move ALL Apple manufacturing back to the good old USA,” so you’re not actually agreeing with them.
Thanks for the correction, my bad. Wishful thinking got the best of me …
One could use that same modified headline:
Why Apple CEO Tim Cook capitulates to it’s home nation: Money and Power.
Don’t be fooled, Apple’s home nation is on par if not worse than China. At least China had the decency not to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and limits torture to it’s own people.
It’s a tough race to the bottom but Apple’s home nation has already cross the finish line.
What should Apple do? Move all it’s manufacturing to the free and civilized world? Sell it’s products only to the free and civilized world? Naw, forget the current global pains and full steam ahead because Apple is changing the world for the better and that includes everyone. That’s what makes it great, not this beating up on everyone else, but empowering everyone to be the best they can be, be it a totalitarian government of the Benedict Arnold of humanity.
In other words: Do as we say, not as we do. Typical liberal BS
This is epic proportion level and far and above the typical liberal 🐂💩.
Apple CEO preaching liberal values the world over, fine. Exception: China and ensuing height of hypocrisy.
Cook is a typical CEO beholden to corporate profits, Wall Street and the board of directors.
They allow him room to play SJW as long as it does not affect the bottom line.
So sorry good Apple employees have to work for a conflicted prophet …
Do you honestly think your conservative buddies are 100% hypocrisy free or are you just here to join the circle jerk if political douchebaggery?
An honest person decries the triumph if greed over morals in all instances without needing to twist the narrative into an offensive political weapon.
Looks like the President is just as much a “hypocrite” as Tim Cook. He just all but abandoned efforts to rein in China’s intellectual property thefts to hope for negotiating help with North Korea.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-s-sacrificing-american-workers-for-china-s-help-with-north-korea-and-not-getting-much
The Daily Beast? jeez, Louise sister…you might as well read The Daily Worker…no wait, even The Worker is more accurate.
ANOTHER FUD article filled with errors, attacking Apple as if it were the only high tech company assembling in China posted by one of our resident Anti-Apple Hate Brigade members.
Just some of the errors that litter this article:
“Apple Inc. made headlines recently for capitulating to the Chinese government while its CEO argues against President Donald Trump’s agenda at home.” Apple was following the LAW in China, not “capitulating to the Chinese government” as this author claims. Is following US regulations and law “Capitulating to the US Federal government” in the United States when not following the law results in major fines and/or imprisonment of a company’s officers?
“However, the company gave way to Beijing decades ago when it moved much of its manufacturing and assembly processes to China from other parts of Asia.” Apple still has much of its manufacturing done in other countries including the USA, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brazil, Ireland, and many other nations. Final assembly and some manufacturing is done in China.
“Cook, who sits on the board of a human rights foundation, played an important role in moving Apple’s production and assembly activities to China.” Apple was the last major computer manufacturer in the USA to move any of its computer manufacturing and assembling to China, and still assembles iMacs in California and Ireland, and completely manufactures its Apple MacPro in Austin, Texas, unlike any other computer maker today.
“Apple primarily made its way into China through its partnership with Foxconn. . .” Apple is not, and never has been, a “partner” of Foxconn. Foxconn is an independent company that contracts with over 500 Consumer Electronic companies, including ALL of Apple’s competitors, to assemble more than 60% of the world’s electronic devices.
“The companies’ partnership (sic) has weathered rough patches, like the string of suicides at some of the factories due to poor labor conditions and environmental problems in 2011. Apple has since addressed these issues.” Sigh. The “string of suicides” at Foxconn number a TOTAL of just 18 employees out of over 750,000 of 18 months, which actually occurred in 2010, had NOTHING to do with Apple, occurring at factories assembling Microsoft X-boxes, HP computers, Nokia cellphones, and Sony Playstations. Apple did not have to address the issue, except to issue a regrets about the deaths when SAMSUNG used the propaganda against Apple through a China Workers’ Rights organization headquartered in New York City that only CLAIMED it the suicides were related to working conditions, when in actual fact, independent investigators found they had ZERO to do with working conditions but rather individual reasons. The suicide rate at Foxconn was 11 times LOWER than the suicide rate at American Ivy League Colleges among people of the same age cohorts.
“Cook actually attempted to move some of the production facilities to the U.S. after a meeting with Trump, but most of the suppliers were unwilling to relocate.” This is the article author pulling a claim out of his navel and declaring as fact something that is totally FALSE. Foxconn has already announced the building of a plant in the US for some iPhone parts assembly that is likely to hire a large number of employees.
“Apple is not only the largest technology company, but it is is also the ninth-largest company in the world.” Even when this author is telling truths, he has to lie by omission of facts. Apple IS the largest company in the world by Market Cap. The larger “companies” are ALL government/private quasi-partnership entities with their assets either majority backed or even supplied by a major socialist government.
“Last year, Apple saw $217 billion in sales, $45 billion in profit, $331 billion in assets and a market cap of $752 billion. This is egregiously demonstrative of the author’s total cluelessness about Finance and economics. He lumps the cumulative measures of liquid assets accumulated over multiple years and the perceived value of the company based on the vagaries of the stock market as though they were accomplished in a single year. Clueless. . . and arrogates to himself the authority to write about Apple as if he knows anything at all about how a multinational corporations should be governed. This guy is a know-nothing buffoon, and demonstrates it with his ignorance on parade, with floating lead balloons, and bands completely out of step with any resemblance to factual data.
There’re a lot more errors and just down right things that are wrong, but you get the idea. This article is so full of dis-information and outright falsehoods it can only be described as the opening salvo in the TENTH ANNIVERSARY FUD SEASON preceding next month’s major announcement of the much anticipated reboot of the iPhone.
Sorry about the “posted by one our, etc.” this was my comment on another site, where the entire article had been reposted by such an Apple hater. I was going to delete that portion and totally forgot. My apologies to the editors on MDM. BLUSHING RED.
you have a great post but sadly the ‘sound bite click bait’ journalists will keep doing their ‘Apple Evil’ fictions as it’s a ‘compelling story that sells’, the NYT’s won a Pulitzer with their error filled series on Apple’s labour issues.