$1 Trillion Scandal? Apple’s China Crisis Hits Global Spotlight

Apple is facing a storm of speculation after viral claims alleged a $1 trillion payment to Chinese President Xi Jinping, supposedly tied to covert agreements securing Apple’s long-term operations in China. While no evidence has been produced to support the explosive figure, the story has brought renewed attention to Apple’s deep reliance on China, where over 90% of its products are manufactured.

Critics argue that Apple’s global dominance comes with significant geopolitical risk, as its supply chain remains deeply embedded in a country with increasing political and economic tensions with the United States. With rising scrutiny from Washington and growing calls to diversify supply chains, Apple now faces a dual crisis: public skepticism over its entanglement with China and political pressure to shift production elsewhere.

Though the $1 trillion claim lacks credible verification and is viewed by analysts as implausible, it underscores a very real challenge—Apple’s dependence on a single nation for the vast majority of its manufacturing could be its greatest vulnerability in an era of growing U.S.-China decoupling.

Ruth Forbes

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