Patrick McGee

Yeah. And it's not one, right? It's like the modern equivalent of the Soviet Union. Like, it's our biggest adversary. And so, you know, I sort of end the book, not to sort of, like, get so ahead of myself here.

Yeah. And it's not one, right? It's like the modern equivalent of the Soviet Union. Like, it's our biggest adversary. And so, you know, I sort of end the book, not to sort of, like, get so ahead of myself here.

So I say that as China, you know, as their GDP eventually overtakes America, and especially because they're doing so good in the advanced electronics sector, more people are going to ask, how did they do it? Like, how did they go from such poverty 50 years ago into the world's greatest maker of like military weaponry and advanced electronics?

So I say that as China, you know, as their GDP eventually overtakes America, and especially because they're doing so good in the advanced electronics sector, more people are going to ask, how did they do it? Like, how did they go from such poverty 50 years ago into the world's greatest maker of like military weaponry and advanced electronics?

And a big portion of the disquieting answer is year in, year out, Apple taught them.

And a big portion of the disquieting answer is year in, year out, Apple taught them.

That's very much in the book. Yeah, absolutely.

That's very much in the book. Yeah, absolutely.

Well, yes, because I would say, so my thesis is really that they sleepwalked into this crisis. I mean, you cannot blame Apple for moving into China in the early 2000s. For starters, the American consensus was that we're going to inculcate the next great democracy. They joined the WTO. They came in. I mean, there was broad political support to do that.

Well, yes, because I would say, so my thesis is really that they sleepwalked into this crisis. I mean, you cannot blame Apple for moving into China in the early 2000s. For starters, the American consensus was that we're going to inculcate the next great democracy. They joined the WTO. They came in. I mean, there was broad political support to do that.

The problem was when Xi Jinping really turns China in an authoritarian and belligerent direction, it's not like Apple was on the sidelines not noticing. They were attacked within 36 hours of Xi ascending to the presidency. Tell them about Consumer Day. Consumer Day is something that happens March 15th every year in China, and basically it goes back to 1991.

The problem was when Xi Jinping really turns China in an authoritarian and belligerent direction, it's not like Apple was on the sidelines not noticing. They were attacked within 36 hours of Xi ascending to the presidency. Tell them about Consumer Day. Consumer Day is something that happens March 15th every year in China, and basically it goes back to 1991.

There's someone in the audience like, I know Consumer Day. I have read this book.

There's someone in the audience like, I know Consumer Day. I have read this book.

Okay, so companies are called out for, like, not living up to the socialist ethos, okay? And it's increasingly Western companies in the mid-2000s. And McDonald's is 2012, and the book opens with 2013, Apple is attacked on Consumer Day. And it's for warranty differences of all things.

Okay, so companies are called out for, like, not living up to the socialist ethos, okay? And it's increasingly Western companies in the mid-2000s. And McDonald's is 2012, and the book opens with 2013, Apple is attacked on Consumer Day. And it's for warranty differences of all things.

Well, it's, okay, so... How much time do we have? It's the most fascinating part of the narrative.

Well, it's, okay, so... How much time do we have? It's the most fascinating part of the narrative.

Like, literally, there's no other program. It's just like... I'm gonna give you the 30-second version, but this is four chapters in the book, okay? Demand for iPhone in China after 2010 is wild, okay? There are four stores for 1.4 billion people, okay? So one store per 350 million people. And the iPhone becomes the most conspicuous, like, status symbol imaginable on the country. In the country.

Like, literally, there's no other program. It's just like... I'm gonna give you the 30-second version, but this is four chapters in the book, okay? Demand for iPhone in China after 2010 is wild, okay? There are four stores for 1.4 billion people, okay? So one store per 350 million people. And the iPhone becomes the most conspicuous, like, status symbol imaginable on the country. In the country.