This article examines the complex relationship between the U.S. and China in the tech sector and explores why China doesn't have to respond to United States crackdown on Huawei by sanctioning Apple.
While on the surface, sanctioning Apple may seem like a reciprocal counter-attack, China has chosen a more rational and long-term path of development in many aspects, including deep economic, technological and international relations.
On the surface, the United States sanctioned Huawei on the grounds of "national security", but in fact, behind this is more concerns about the rise of China's technology.
Huawei is not only a consumer electronics brand, but its strong competitiveness in 5G, chips, communication equipment and other fields directly threatens United States's technological dominance.
It is this concern that has prompted the United States to adopt various measures such as chip supply cuts, technology blockades and international market crowding out to try to curb Huawei's further development. However, this series of sanctions has not been as effective as United States expected.
On the contrary, Huawei's self-developed HarmonyOS and continuous breakthroughs in 5G technology have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and innovation capabilities, making it stronger and stronger in difficult situations.
Compared to Huawei, Apple's position in the Chinese market is very different. As a high-end mobile phone brand, Apple not only relies on China's huge consumer market, but is also deeply embedded in China's supply chain network.
Data shows that more than 90% of Apple's products are produced in China, and nearly half of its suppliers are Chinese companies. If China sanctions Apple, it will directly impact these local supply chain companies, which in turn will affect the employment of millions of Chinese workers.
Therefore, in the long run, the economic and social impact of sanctions on Apple on China itself is far greater than the impact on United States.
The differences in economic structure and market environment between China and United States determine that China does not need to respond reciprocally by sanctioning United States companies. As a staunch supporter of globalization, China has always attracted foreign investment with an open market environment and stable legal guarantees.
If Apple is sanctioned, it may not only cause panic among foreign companies, but even damage China's important position in the global supply chain.
At the same time, the cooperation with Apple has helped Chinese companies improve their technology and management level to a certain extent, and has played an important role in promoting the development of local high-tech industries. Therefore, it is not in China's long-term interest to sanction Apple.
Huawei and Apple play completely different roles in the global market. Huawei's core competitiveness lies in the field of communication technology, especially 5G network equipment, while Apple is more focused on the consumer electronics market.
Although Apple's mobile phone business occupies a huge global market share, Apple does not have the strength to compete directly with Chinese companies in key technologies such as 5G.
Chinese mobile phone brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO already dominate the low-to-mid-end market, and further breakthroughs in the high-end market will gradually weaken Apple's market share in the future. Therefore, transcendence through market competition is clearly more sustainable than administrative sanctions.
In fact, China's sanctions against United States have not been without countermeasures, but in more subtle and effective ways. For example, in the field of chips, China has accelerated its independent research and development, and the progress of companies such as Huawei and UNISOC is particularly significant.
By reducing its dependence on United States technology, China's chip industry chain is becoming increasingly perfect and gradually realizing technological independence. In addition, under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has expanded economic cooperation with other parts of the world and further strengthened its influence in the international market. These actions have effectively formed a powerful countermeasure to United States sanctions.
To sum up, while China has the ability to sanction Apple, it is not necessary. The rise of China's technology will rely more on independent innovation and technological breakthroughs than through sanctions on United States companies.
Although the United States sanctions have brought certain short-term difficulties to Chinese enterprises, they have also virtually accelerated the process of China's scientific and technological independence. As some commentators have pointed out, "the more the United States suppresses, the more China can stimulate its own development potential." ”