The Global Story Can Apple cut ties with China?
Sep 23, 2025
Patrick McGee, a former Financial Times reporter and author of *Apple in China*, explores Apple's ambitious $600bn plan for US manufacturing. He discusses the intricate history of Apple's reliance on Chinese factories and Foxconn's pivotal role in its success. McGee delves into the challenges posed by US political pressures and Xi Jinping’s policies, revealing why completely disentangling from China is nearly impossible for Apple. Can the tech giant balance its commitments and navigate this geopolitical maze? Tune in for insights!
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Operations Turn Chaos Into Scale
- Tim Cook turned Apple's chaotic manufacturing into a precise, Excel-driven operation focused on detail and control.
- That operational discipline enabled Apple to outsource without losing the product quality Steve Jobs demanded.
From Garbage Field To High-Speed Factory
- John Rubenstein visited a field of garbage that Terry Guo later transformed into a working factory in months.
- Foxconn's ability to build at 'China speed' astonished Apple and enabled massive production runs like 100,000 units per day.
China Shifted From Host To Competitor
- Xi Jinping shifted policy toward 'China for China', pushing local firms up the value chain and pressuring multinationals.
- That policy gradually moved more of Apple's supply-chain control into Chinese hands over the last decade.
