Apple's significant success has been tied to its supply chain in China, fostered by companies like Foxconn since the mid-1990s.
The partnership with local companies enabled Apple to diversify suppliers and enhance bargaining power, but also led to a transfer of manufacturing know-how in China.
Despite increasing political risks, Apple expanded operations in China under Tim Cook's leadership, which may now prove unsustainable.
Criticism surrounds Cook's $275 billion deal with the CCP, signed in 2016, that tied Apple's fate closely to China.
Analysts suggest it could take years for Apple to reduce reliance on China, highlighting the need to diversify production locations.
Concerns about operational risks and geopolitical tensions in China point to a dilemma that Cook must address for Apple's future growth and stability.
Calls for a strategic plan from Cook to navigate Apple's entanglement in China and diversify production sources have intensified.
The article advocates for accelerating the move of production out of China to mitigate risks associated with overreliance on a single country.
Suggestions of diversifying assembly outside of China emphasize the importance of reducing vulnerability by spreading production globally.
Apple's expansion into new markets like India and exploration of innovative technologies showcase a potential path for future growth and sustainability.