James Kynge

As you mentioned, Tim Cook is in China at the moment.

He's been opening a big store.

And previous to that, he was at the China Development Forum in Beijing.

And there he was using some mollifying language.

He said, we are committed to collaborating with our partners across China and with all of you to make this vision of progress at Apple a reality.

It didn't really seem to address the issue head on, but I think it was supposed to mollify opinion in China that is turning against Apple to some degree.

So to me, what is happening to Apple in China is that it's being pressured by the Chinese government to make commercial concessions.

And it's already made one, but China wants more.

Those are great points you're making about Apple and AI in China.

Chinese companies are really moving ahead quickly in AI.

The number of applications of different uses, startups in AI all over the country, it's just, it is a fever at the moment in China.

And it's quite possible, as you raised the possibility, that Apple could get left behind

particularly if its AI products are delayed for whatever reason from coming into the China market.

I really do see that as a risk that you point out.

Absolutely.

I think China's strategy for the moment is to make rhetorical capital out of the U.S.

actions.

I thought in particular recently Li Qiang, the premier, made a speech at the China Development Forum, which is China's version of Davos.

It's a place where CEOs of companies from the West who can be relied upon to praise China collect with Chinese officials and academics from the West

who can also be relied upon to lavish praise on China.