For the second time in a week, China's state-run press has published an article criticizing Apple over allegations that Apple's warranty in that country is significantly worse than in other countries, reports The Wall Street Journal. Apple had previously claimed the warranty it offers in China is nearly identical to that offered in other countries.
Previously, a number of Chinese celebrities criticized Apple on microblogging site Sina Weibo -- however, it is alleged that the messages were paid for and part of a coordinated attempt to stir up an anti-Apple backlash amongst the Chinese public.
Today's article, published in The People's Daily newspaper, criticized Apple for declining journalists' requests for interviews, and called a press release the company issued "empty and self-praising". For years, Apple has been extremely selective when it comes to granting interviews.
Though it can be difficult to predict government behavior based on news coverage in China's state-run media, analysts said the string of attacks suggested that the government is considering doing more to encourage the growth of domestic smartphone companies and eat away at dominant foreign companies, such as Apple.
The criticism means "that in establishment circles, there is a level of acceptance that it is OK to go against this company, which can mean there's trouble down the road," said Jeremy Goldkorn, director of Danwei.org, which researches Chinese media.
The incidents reflect more on a changing Chinese approach to foreign companies, rather than some specific reflection on Apple itself. China is Apple's second largest market after the U.S., and the company has been aggressive in expanding there.
The Chinese government has targeted other foreign companies including Volkswagen and KFC in recent months.
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Top Rated Comments
:rolleyes: (THIS EMOTICON MEANS "SARCASM")..... I'm being sarcastic because the US media is anything but impartial and the 4th check it has been and is supposed to be. I'm not making a political statement either way - both are equally guilty (though it is pretty lopsided in one party's favor).
Maybe you are cynical because your own government lied to you in the past. WMD ring any bells, chemical weapons that can be ready in 45 minutes from trucks. This crap was said in front of the whole world at the UN.
Yeah, it's obvious Obama has Fox News in his pocket
Alleged? No. The Chinese State Run Press, the Samsung spokeperson, and many paid anti-Apple shills were caught red handed:
http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/13/03/did-cctv-hire-celebrities-to-bash-apple-on-weibo/274104/
I substituted a couple words - pretty cool
Apple has changed our economy (think about how many items in your house are "Made by Apple" versus 10-15 years ago), and not for the better.
Apple likes our money, but isn't our friend. Not to sound paranoid, but people forget that commercialism's long range goal is to rule the world. This has been put in the back seat for many years, but it is still very much a goal of Apple.