Chinese protesters smashing Apple iPhones over UN tribunal South China Sea decision
Chinese nationalists are reportedly taking to boycotts and destruction of emblematic U.S. consumer goods, like the iPhone, to protest an unfavorable UN body decision over disputed territory in the South and East China Sea.
Videos circulating on social media depict protesters wearing patriotic apparel and smashing iPhones in protest. China's ruling Communist Party spoke through the People's Daily newspaper and demanded "rational patriotism" in response to the protests, which appear to be mostly undertaken by college-aged citizens.
"This is not the right way to express patriotism," the state-run Xinhua news agency wrote on Wednesday. The?slightly more independent China Daily called the device smashing "jingoism that does a disservice to the spirit of devotion to the nation."
"The Chinese public, as optimistic and positive as they are, are deeply patriotic and nationalistic, especially people who are younger," said James Roy of the research firm China Market Research Group. Apple is one of the brands that is "just very closely associated with the United States, and you are seeing people picking the closest symbol they can think of to demonstrate against," according to Roy.
A counter-movement has also started. Some individuals are posting photos on the same social media outlets with their iPhones, or a bucket of chicken from KFC, with one individual addressing "patriotic hooligans" suggesting they would "take out" anyone harassing them.
Apple has had significant problems in China, despite relying on the country to boost sales. Apple has lost exclusivity on the use of the "iPhone" trademark in China, and must share it with Beijing-based leather products maker Xintong Tiandi Technology.
Additionally, under new Chinese regulations, Apple will have to track the identities of App Store users while flagging anything that might violate the country's censorship laws. Developers must be verified, and apps will have to be screened by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television prior to publication. The simplified approval process is said to take up to 20 days, and much longer in other instances.
The UN case riling protesters involves a dispute with the Philippines over a series of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. A ruling last week by a UN tribunal?found that despite massive resource gathering in the area, the Chinese government has no legitimate claim over the contested islands, or for a wider area of the South China Sea.
The Philippines have refused further negotiations outside of the Hague's ruling, setting the stage for further protests.
Videos circulating on social media depict protesters wearing patriotic apparel and smashing iPhones in protest. China's ruling Communist Party spoke through the People's Daily newspaper and demanded "rational patriotism" in response to the protests, which appear to be mostly undertaken by college-aged citizens.
"This is not the right way to express patriotism," the state-run Xinhua news agency wrote on Wednesday. The?slightly more independent China Daily called the device smashing "jingoism that does a disservice to the spirit of devotion to the nation."
People in China are smashing iPhones and mobbing KFC in 'patriotism'. https://t.co/5g5H7WXGuo pic.twitter.com/jch74unitk
-- Victoria Ho (@vickiho)
"The Chinese public, as optimistic and positive as they are, are deeply patriotic and nationalistic, especially people who are younger," said James Roy of the research firm China Market Research Group. Apple is one of the brands that is "just very closely associated with the United States, and you are seeing people picking the closest symbol they can think of to demonstrate against," according to Roy.
A counter-movement has also started. Some individuals are posting photos on the same social media outlets with their iPhones, or a bucket of chicken from KFC, with one individual addressing "patriotic hooligans" suggesting they would "take out" anyone harassing them.
Apple has had significant problems in China, despite relying on the country to boost sales. Apple has lost exclusivity on the use of the "iPhone" trademark in China, and must share it with Beijing-based leather products maker Xintong Tiandi Technology.
Additionally, under new Chinese regulations, Apple will have to track the identities of App Store users while flagging anything that might violate the country's censorship laws. Developers must be verified, and apps will have to be screened by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television prior to publication. The simplified approval process is said to take up to 20 days, and much longer in other instances.
The UN case riling protesters involves a dispute with the Philippines over a series of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. A ruling last week by a UN tribunal?found that despite massive resource gathering in the area, the Chinese government has no legitimate claim over the contested islands, or for a wider area of the South China Sea.
The Philippines have refused further negotiations outside of the Hague's ruling, setting the stage for further protests.
Comments
For which they'd apparently sell their souls to acquire.
The hilarity is real.
Next thing you know, they'll be building a giant wall...
If somebody wishes to destroy their own property, then go right ahead! It's not illegal to be a dumbass! As long as it's their own property that they're destroying, then go for it!
I've been saying this for a long time, but Apple should not rely so much on China. It's a very bad position to be in, to rely on such a country.
Every country also has people who histrionically label everyone who disagrees with them as a "traitor", though, too. People who do that risk spending their lives in a state of lonely, frightened, bitterness. Sad.
Isn't that counter-revolutionary, and therefore an act of treason against The People?
They could dump the destroyed iPhones into the sea to start another illegal island....
That'll teach whoever they're mad at a good lesson! That'll show 'em!
Its certainly a weird position that the USA --- on one hand want the open seas etc and 'quietly' support Philippines, Vietnam etc; on the other hand, USA has not signed the treaty that these countries are using as their claim for territory in the international court!
Tribalism... it will be (one of) the un-doing of humanity.
Wasn't there some rumor about opening a Foxcon facility in India?