Apple chief Tim Cook has said China is “critical” to its business in comments made during a visit to the country, where consumers are showing signs of souring on the company’s iPhones and US technology.Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Cook has become a frequent visitor to China, a key market and huge manufacturing base for Apple products. His latest public relations offensive kicked off in Shanghai with an interview with local media, in which he delivered effusive praise and a promise to invest more in the country.
The state-owned Global Times, best known for its nationalist bashing of the US, reported the increased investment pledge and quoted Cook as saying: “There’s no supply chain in the world that’s more critical to us than China.”
Shanghai state-owned media noted Cook praised the “high level of modernisation in Chinese factories, with very advanced manufacturing capabilities and well-trained workers”.