Chinese agencies and state-backed enterprises nationwide are intensifying efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technologies, with directives urging employees to refrain from bringing Apple iPhones and other foreign devices to the workplace, as reported by Bloomberg News on Friday (December 15).
This marks a continuation of China’s decade-long strategy to bolster domestic technologies, urging state-affiliated entities, including banks, to transition to local software and promoting the growth of domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing.
In the past month or two, multiple state firms and government departments across at least eight provinces have issued instructions for employees to embrace local brands. This push towards domestic technology adoption is particularly notable in lower-tier cities, including Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning, and central Hebei, home to the world’s largest iPhone factory. Notably, smaller firms and agencies in these regions have independently issued verbal directives, contributing to the broader trend of reducing reliance on foreign tech products.
Apple has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment on these developments. The heightened emphasis on using locally-produced devices is aligned with China’s broader economic and technological self-sufficiency goals, reflecting a deliberate shift away from foreign technologies.
