US-China tech war: Apple puts China squarely at the apex of supplier list, bucking talk of decoupling and scrutiny of its vendors

Nearly one-third of the newly shortlisted companies are from the Chinese mainland, according to a Post analysis of Apple’s supplier list for 2017 and 2020. The increase in the number of mainland companies used by the iPhone maker highlights the importance of China in global hi-tech supply chains. — SCMP

Apple has added more suppliers from mainland China than anywhere else to its list of vendors over the past three years, defying deteriorating US-China relations during the Trump administration, talk of economic decoupling and increasing scrutiny of its component producers.

Nearly one-third of the newly shortlisted companies are from the Chinese mainland, according to a South China Morning Post analysis of Apple’s supplier list for 2017 and 2020. Among the 52 new names added to the latest list, 15 are from the mainland, with several based in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen and others hailing from eastern Jiangsu province.