Intelligence Squared Did Apple’s Rise Fuel China’s Fight for Tech Supremacy? With Patrick McGee
Jul 29, 2025
In this intriguing conversation, investigative journalist Patrick McGee, author of "Apple in China" and former Apple reporter at the Financial Times, explores Apple's dramatic rise from the brink of bankruptcy to global domination. He discusses Apple's pivotal decision to outsource production to China and the resulting impact on its success with products like the iPod and iPhone. McGee reveals the complex relationship between Apple and the Chinese state, highlighting the geopolitical tensions and the ethical dilemmas arising from this entanglement.
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Apple's Manufacturing Pivot Success
- Apple saved itself by outsourcing manufacturing in the early 2000s.
- This shift transformed Chinese manufacturing into a global powerhouse.
Apple's Deep Manufacturing Control
- Apple didn't just outsource; it deeply engineered and controlled manufacturing processes.
- They sent top engineers to train factories, effectively building their supply chain expertise.
Training Factories Like Classes
- Apple engineers trained factory workers repeatedly, only to see them shift to competitors.
- Factories cycled trained employees, forcing Apple to constantly restart training, like new semesters.
