Apple CEO Tim Cook 'Secretly' Signed $275 Billion Deal With China in 2016

[Da_Hood]

What did Vietnam ever do to the US? And remind me again who was responsible for arming the very people who would end up forming the Al Qaeda?

Two instances of the US helping others defend themselves from oppressors.
Brainwashed much.
In Afghanistan, US arms mujahideen, to stop Russia from killing Afghanis. Foreign fighters don’t like it when the Russians leave and the US cash dries up. In the power vacuum they start civil war in attempt to seize power.
US instrumental in ending French occupation of Vietnam. Some people don‘t appreciate the peace, think they smarter than everyone else and like power, civil war. US brokers peace deal, divide country in two, southern ******* demand US guarantee because they don’t trust commies, US obliges. North Vietnam renegs on peace deal, US dragged into war.

I see two instances of US helping sovereign states defend themselves, only to be ****ed over by people who don’t appreciate the peace they helped achieve.
Bit hey your Imam knows better then me.

 

[Abazigal]

Two instances of the US helping others defend themselves from oppressors.
Brainwashed much.
In Afghanistan, US arms mujahideen, to stop Russia from killing Afghanis. Foreign fighters don’t like it when the Russians leave and the US cash dries up. In the power vacuum they start civil war in attempt to seize power.
US instrumental in ending French occupation of Vietnam. Some people don‘t appreciate the peace, think they smarter than everyone else and like power, civil war. US brokers peace deal, divide country in two, southern ******* demand US guarantee because they don’t trust commies, US obliges. North Vietnam renegs on peace deal, US dragged into war.

I see two instances of US helping sovereign states defend themselves, only to be ****ed over by people who don’t appreciate the peace they helped achieve.
Bit hey your Imam knows better then me.

I see the US poking its nose in matters that are frankly none of its concern, packs up and leaves when it no longer serves their interests, and others have to clear up the mess they created in the first place.

But hey, what do I know? I am just a teacher in Singapore spending a leisurely afternoon on Macrumours.

 

[macintoshmac]

When thinking of the long-term, I still believe that being engaged and “in the room” ends up being more powerful and effective than issuing ultimatums or cutting country relations based on differences in views and ideals. Even if it's a country like China, and this is important especially because it is China.

Apple is a design company focused on selling tools that can improve people's lives. Apple is willing to navigate volatile political landscapes, which may include dialling back certain public comments and statements, and if such actions result in more people benefiting from Apple's toolmaking mission, then so be it.

For one, I think we all know that any talk of bringing manufacturing back to the US is a fever dream. At most, we may see Apple shifting production from China to other developing nations like Vietnam (which ironically enough, remains underdeveloped today due to the nonsense that resulted from the Vietnam war). But this is also probably because manufacturing in China has been slowly becoming more expensive, due to China developing itself.

Second, I believe Tim Cook has the political savvy to handle both China and US, and my gut feel is that he is using both countries to balance each other out. I have reason to believe that China cannot come down too hard on Apple despite their ties with the US because Apple is (still) responsible for employing a significant number of their populace, and the last thing China wants is social instability caused by an increase in unemployment rates.

At the same time, my sensing is that the US has its hands full dealing with social media tech giants (especially Republicans who feel that they are being "unfairly" censored by Facebook and Twitter). Apple is also held up as a shining example of US innovation and entrepreneurship, so I don't see (a very divided) Congress coming down too hard on Apple either. Apple is simply not a priority for them.

And personally, I agree with Tim Cook's stance, for the simple reason that I feel it's still better to engage than to disengage. I don't think there is anything wrong with Apple taking a more active political stance in the US, or advocating for certain legislation. At the same time, this sort of behaviour would not be acceptable in other countries, and I accept that Apple follows the laws in each country that they operate in respectively. I would expect nothing less from any company who wishes to operate in my country.

Some people here will argue that Apple shouldn’t do business in any country that has laws or views that go against Apple’s stated beliefs. In such a world, Apple would only operate in a handful of countries. In my view, everyone loses in that situation, not least because they lose access to Apple products in their countries.

Others think Apple should use its position to basically force governments to change its ways or else. Let’s call this for what it is – people think Apple should use its power to usher in political change in various countries. It's ridiculous to think that such a notion would even be considered acceptable.

Apple did what it needed to do to secure the supply chain needed to produce sufficient supply to meet dramatically increasing demand for its products over the years, and the world is better off for it.

I think it fit to mention that I am not on the opposing side of this. I only said I am looking forward to what might happen back home for Tim. THAT'S ALL I SAID. I never even said "will face backlash" that you read in my previous words. I only ever said I am looking forward to seeing how this pans out for Tim and others. What has necessitated you launching into explanations on engagement and disengagement? I feel you might have read a little too much into my words.

I ONLY said and ONLY want to see how this pans out. Nothing else. I am nobody to have any say in the matter nor can I do anything in the matter.

 

[Brien]

Here's a crazy thought: how about investing in the country in which your company is based out of?

Offensive, I know. Not feasible, I know. Ballsy to even mention... I know.

China’s middle class is growing. America’s is collapsing.

Ever wonder why so many companies court China? We have bigger issues afoot.

 

[cbautis2]

I see the US poking its nose in matters that are frankly none of its concern, packs up and leaves when it no longer serves their interests, and others have to clear up the mess they created in the first place.

But hey, what do I know? I am just a teacher in Singapore spending a leisurely afternoon on Macrumours.

You definitely know more about US Politics than most US citizens by a long shot that's for sure

China’s middle class is growing. America’s is collapsing.

Ever wonder why so many companies court China? We have bigger issues afoot.

Disagree with China's middle class growing rather it does not existed there (elite or peasants only) but agreed with America's middle class collapse

 

[Abazigal]

You definitely know more about US Politics than most US citizens by a long shot that's for sure

I am pretty sure there are plenty who know just as much, if not more than me. There are many aspects of US culture that I adore, from your shows to your food to yes, Apple products. I just can’t stand this “the US is the centre of the world and everything must revolve around it” attitude, though yes, I understand this is a US-centric forum and many of the members are very likely reside in the US themselves.

So yeah, I just cannot accept this logic that Apple is somehow expected to use its power to usher in political change in various countries.

 

[darkus]

For companies like Apple everything and I mean everything is transactional. Apple would replace their logo with a pile of **** emoji if they were given enough money.

Trying to find morality or principle in the way a company acts is idiotic and moronic. Despite corporate websites telling you they are magical and want to save the planet by making computers and phones and selling them to you. Lol.

If things like this bother you, and no doubt they should, there are other places you should look to for those kinds of ethics and principles. A multibillion dollar corporation is just about the last place. And before someone chimes in with [fill in the blank demagogue]… just please.

But as this thread shows us, the vast majority of people have become such absolute corporate and consumer bitches they think the world revolves around Apple and that Apple will “do the right thing” or something stupid along those lines.

 

[Da_Hood]

I see the US poking its nose in matters that are frankly none of its concern, packs up and leaves when it no longer serves their interests, and others have to clear up the mess they created in the first place.

But hey, what do I know? I am just a teacher in Singapore spending a leisurely afternoon on Macrumours.

As a teacher, you should know better than to smoke crack in a country that hangs people for possession.

 

[orthorim]

China is an important market for Apple, for assembling their products and for sales, so no surprise here.

That's why they've done the things they've done. Cook doesn't want to upset them.

Apple is controlled by Chinese and US governments, creating a worst of all worlds situation.

Money talks but governments can shut down a company with a piece of paper. Plus, they got guns.

For people who are still so naive as to believe the US government is any better than the chinese - it's only better to the extent that Americans have a constitution and are heavily armed. If it wasn't for that - US and China would be the same.

As for human rights and environment - surely environment is really bad, as can easily be seen, but only China can change it. Human rights, I don't trust anything in the mass media - this is information controlled by the three letter agencies, and the information has only one aim - to push their agenda. The information is accurate when it fits the agenda, and misleading when the facts on ground do not fit the agenda, so at the end of the day all news is propaganda pamphlets. Exactly like it is in China!

Only Chinese people are more acutely aware of this fact, and nobody there is so naive as to believe what's in the news.

 

[Abazigal]

As a teacher, you should know better than to smoke crack in a country that hangs people for possession.

Trafficking. Not mere possession.

 

[ccsicecoke]

China’s middle class is growing. America’s is collapsing.

Ever wonder why so many companies court China? We have bigger issues afoot.

you do not know what you're talking about.
Middle class growing in a communism country?
Are you freaking kidding me?
Do you know all lands are owned by communism government?
Do you know there is no such concept as "private property" in China as of now? And government can take away anything from anyone with any excuse?

 

[orthorim]

Two instances of the US helping others defend themselves from oppressors.
Brainwashed much.
In Afghanistan, US arms mujahideen, to stop Russia from killing Afghanis. Foreign fighters don’t like it when the Russians leave and the US cash dries up. In the power vacuum they start civil war in attempt to seize power.
US instrumental in ending French occupation of Vietnam. Some people don‘t appreciate the peace, think they smarter than everyone else and like power, civil war. US brokers peace deal, divide country in two, southern ******* demand US guarantee because they don’t trust commies, US obliges. North Vietnam renegs on peace deal, US dragged into war.

I see two instances of US helping sovereign states defend themselves, only to be ****ed over by people who don’t appreciate the peace they helped achieve.
Bit hey your Imam knows better then me.

It's 2021 and anyone with eyes to see can see that actually the tin foil hats were right all along and all the governments are being controlled by the same group of people - or entities.

They remain hidden, but they're certainly there.

They create all the wars and artificial division to keep govern-ment relevant - without wars, maybe people would have already figured out that all governments are parasites on human civilization.

If there were no governments ever, it's hard to imagine there being more wars, more atrocities, more genocides, on the planet over the last thousand years than there were. All created by governments, to keep themselves relevant.

It's always the same tactic too, humans aren't really very clever.

Strangely, it's exactly like in the book 1984. Every decade, there's new enemies and new alliiances between countries, creating conflicts and resolving conflicts, fighting wars, killing people and destroying value, to keep the financial system going, always financiers financing both sides of all wars, every war started by a false flag attack - divide and conquer.

USA has outsourced itself to China in the name of capitalism, but the ones who really are in charge control both China and the USA, and whatever they are doing follows their multi-decade, or even centuries long plans.

US "helping" is absolute nonsensical propaganda, bombs have never and will never "help" anyone, peolpe die from bombs, and even the worst dictators could not do worse than the bombs.

WW2 might have been the exception to this rule but all wars since were false flag based, propaganda based. Imagine we were China, don't you think they would justiffy the invations in front of their own people? And also in front of their own soldiers?

A friend got sent to a US war zone, a young kid, thinking he was doing good for the world, thinking they're the good guys, but as he went into the urban combat zones, he realized - these people are defending their homes from invaders, and we are the invaders! He quit the marines.

 

[ericwn]

Just what do you think happens there? Under international law, illegal combatants may be shot of of hand, but we've granted them effective POW status. Which would you prefer?

Water boarding “interviews” happened there amongst other things.
Certainly no additional examples needed from a nuclear power who wasn’t afraid to use that weapon arsenal and entertains plenty miliybases way outside its own territory. United States of Aggressors. Throwing first stones and all.

 

[CthuluLemon]

Oh the drama. No modern day Apple without the supply chain from China.

Lol, explain the drama? As far as I can see, it’s poor business decisions coming to bite Cook in the ass. There is no reason why Cook should have put all of Apple’s eggs in China’a basket. And yet he did, Tim Cook is a hubristic fool.

 

[dampfnudel]

Tim better hope his deal with the devil doesn’t backfire before he retires.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Tim better hope his deal with the devil doesn’t backfire before he retires.

It already did.

 

[krell100]

The hypocrisy is mind boggling.

 

[Abazigal]

Tim better hope his deal with the devil doesn’t backfire before he retires.

Even if it does one day, the pros will still have more than outweighed the cons.

 

[ericwn]

Lol, explain the drama? As far as I can see, it’s poor business decisions coming to bite Cook in the ass. There is no reason why Cook should have put all of Apple’s eggs in China’a basket. And yet he did, Tim Cook is a hubristic fool.

As far as I know my AirPods were made in Vietnam, some other Apple products are made in other countries. So much for all eggs in one basket. And that basket is their biggest customer going forward most likely.

 

[ericwn]

It's 2021 and anyone with eyes to see can see that actually the tin foil hats were right all along and all the governments are being controlled by the same group of people - or entities.

They remain hidden, but they're certainly there.

They create all the wars and artificial division to keep govern-ment relevant - without wars, maybe people would have already figured out that all governments are parasites on human civilization.

If there were no governments ever, it's hard to imagine there being more wars, more atrocities, more genocides, on the planet over the last thousand years than there were. All created by governments, to keep themselves relevant.

It's always the same tactic too, humans aren't really very clever.

Strangely, it's exactly like in the book 1984. Every decade, there's new enemies and new alliiances between countries, creating conflicts and resolving conflicts, fighting wars, killing people and destroying value, to keep the financial system going, always financiers financing both sides of all wars, every war started by a false flag attack - divide and conquer.

USA has outsourced itself to China in the name of capitalism, but the ones who really are in charge control both China and the USA, and whatever they are doing follows their multi-decade, or even centuries long plans.

US "helping" is absolute nonsensical propaganda, bombs have never and will never "help" anyone, peolpe die from bombs, and even the worst dictators could not do worse than the bombs.

WW2 might have been the exception to this rule but all wars since were false flag based, propaganda based. Imagine we were China, don't you think they would justiffy the invations in front of their own people? And also in front of their own soldiers?

A friend got sent to a US war zone, a young kid, thinking he was doing good for the world, thinking they're the good guys, but as he went into the urban combat zones, he realized - these people are defending their homes from invaders, and we are the invaders! He quit the marines.

You forgot to name those secret entities that you assume control is all. Please solve the riddle for those who are not from the as you call it tin foil hat group.

 

[scottishwildcat]

Remember when Apple said they’d move out of China and start doing more assembly in Vietnam to diversify their production? Pepperidge Farms remembers!

And that’s what they are doing, but Foxconn only got the license to build their new facility in January.

Apple Supplier Foxconn To Build $270 Million Plant In Vietnam Amid U.S.-China Tensions

The new plant will be located in the rural province of Bac Giang, just outside Hanoi, and will be able to manufacture eight million units annually.

www.forbes.com

 

[scottishwildcat]

Lol, explain the drama? As far as I can see, it’s poor business decisions coming to bite Cook in the ass. There is no reason why Cook should have put all of Apple’s eggs in China’a basket. And yet he did, Tim Cook is a hubristic fool.

What exactly has happened recently to one of the most financially-successful companies in the world that’s regularly posting record quarters that makes you believe they are being bitten in the ass? They’re doing absolutely fine.

 

[svish]

Tim has been really good for Apple as its CEO

 

[I7guy]

What exactly has happened recently to one of the most financially-successful companies in the world that’s regularly posting record quarters that makes you believe they are being bitten in the ass? They’re doing absolutely fine.

Even as Apple has hit an all-time high, I think some have a death-wish for Apple and can't see the forest from the trees.

 

[developer13245]

Maybe one day he should think about resettling to China… just saying.

Traitor should be put right next to Steve Jobs.