> Is the CCP throttling exports, or installing backdoors?
They can order workers to do that in the factory. Apple won't be able to do anything about it apart from removing anything that shouldn't be there when it lands in the US. Chinese workers can't say no to CPC orders and Apple has to agree if they want to continue to exploit cheap workforce and lax environment regulations.
Apple can move operations elsewhere. China is better at electronics than essentially everyone else BUT they’re no longer the cheapest workforce and Apple has lots of resources that would be worth nothing if it’s found out (ie by US intelligence, etc) that Apple’s hardware is full of backdoors from CCP.
They can order workers to do that in the factory. Apple won't be able to do anything about it apart from removing anything that shouldn't be there when it lands in the US. Chinese workers can't say no to CPC orders and Apple has to agree if they want to continue to exploit cheap workforce and lax environment regulations.