Apple’s $20B Investment in China Raises Alarms Over U.S. Tech Dependence on Chinese Supply Chains
Apple’s Vice President and Greater China Managing Director, Ge Yue, recently revealed that Apple has invested over $20 billion in China’s smart and green manufacturing sectors over the past five years. This revelation has reignited concerns in the United States over the growing entanglement between major U.S. tech firms and China’s tightly controlled industrial ecosystem.
According to China’s IT Home and Shanghai Securities News, Ge emphasized that more than 80% of Apple’s 200 major global suppliers operate manufacturing facilities in China. She praised China’s leadership in smart manufacturing and expressed hope that Apple will continue participating in Chinese-led initiatives like the Chain Expo to deepen its footprint in the region.
Apple’s participation in the 2025 China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo — alongside Chinese suppliers Sunwoda, Shandong Innovation, and Justec — highlighted Apple’s public commitment to Chinese industry. The companies showcased advancements in automation, environmental protection, and workforce development. However, behind this celebration of innovation lies a deeper geopolitical risk for the United States.
The Biden and Trump administrations have both warned of the strategic vulnerabilities posed by American tech companies’ dependence on China. As geopolitical tensions between the two nations intensify, Apple’s deep financial commitments in China expose the company — and by extension the U.S. economy — to serious national security concerns. Apple’s supply chain not only supports its flagship products but also serves as a critical node in the broader American tech ecosystem. The risk of Chinese leverage, data exposure, or sudden regulatory retaliation cannot be dismissed.
Additionally, China’s supply chain dominance is increasingly viewed by U.S. lawmakers as a strategic threat. The participation of Chinese Communist Party-backed firms in the expo raises red flags, particularly as U.S. tech companies are urged to diversify operations toward allies such as India, Vietnam, or Mexico. Apple’s $20 billion bet in China, while good for short-term efficiencies, runs counter to Washington’s growing push for tech decoupling and resilience.
National security experts warn that the U.S. must remain cautious about the long-term consequences of deepening ties between American corporations and China’s state-driven industrial complex. Apple’s ongoing integration into China’s smart manufacturing infrastructure could become a liability should tensions escalate over Taiwan, trade, or cybersecurity.
In an era where supply chain security equals national security, Apple’s massive investment in China serves as a wake-up call. U.S. policymakers, investors, and consumers alike must ask: at what cost does innovation come when it’s rooted in a geopolitical rival’s domain?
