The war between China and Apple could just be getting tougher after the Chinese government excluded products from its procurement lists because of security concerns, Bloomberg News has reported.
According to the report, Ten Apple products which were on a June version of the list drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance were omitted from a final government procurement list distributed in July,
The products include the iPad, iPad Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The register applies to all central Communist Party departments, government ministries and all local governments, according to the officials.
Last month, state-run China Central Television reported that features of Apple’s iPhone software may result in the leak of state secrets, a move which apple refuted.
“When the government stops the procurement of products, it sends a signal to corporates and semi-government bodies,” said Mark Po, an analyst with UOB Kay Hian Ltd. in Hong Kong.
“The Chinese government wants to make sure that overseas companies shouldn’t have too much influence in China.”
Apple is the latest U.S. technology company to be excluded from Chinese government purchases amid escalating tensions between the countries over claims of hacking and cyberspying.
Source: Bloomberg News
