Chinese government-backed firms and agencies across eight provinces have asked their employees not to bring foreign devices, such as iPhones, to work.
To limit foreign device usage, the Chinese administration has expanded the ban to include numerous government agencies and state-owned companies. The directive has been in place for several years, but in recent months there has been a growing push in Beijing to decrease reliance on
American
technology, which has been happening at a rapid pace.
There has been a significant escalation in the
iPhone ban
imposed in China. According to a report by Bloomberg, an increasing number of Chinese state-owned companies and government departments in eight provinces are now requiring the use of only domestic exclusive brands. The earlier ban, which took place in September, affected only a few government agencies in Beijing and Tianjin.
Sources have said that smaller businesses and organisations in cities have been issuing their verbal directives, indicating that a more extensive movement is occurring. The instructions originated from cities in at least eight different provinces, including the prosperous regions of Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Anhui, as well as the northern provinces of Shanxi, Shandong, Liaoning, and central Hebei.
It is unclear how many agencies have banned
Apple
devices from the workplace, as the enforcement varies.
In the past, there have been reports about restrictions on iPhones in China, but the Chinese government has denied that there are any laws or regulations prohibiting the purchase of Apple or other foreign brands' phones. "China has not issued laws and regulations to ban the purchase of Apple or foreign brands’ phones," said
Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman
Mao Ning
during a press briefing in September. However, the government has expressed concerns about the security of these devices.
Apple heavily relies on China for revenue growth and manufacturing. China accounts for one-fifth of Apple's total revenue, and
iPhone
sales in China exceeded those in the United States last quarter. The move could hurt Apple if the pace continues.
English (US) ·