Patrick McGee: How Apple Accidentally Built China’s Tech Superpower

June 24, 2025

Fresh out of the studio, Patrick McGee, San Francisco correspondent for the Financial Times and author of “Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company” joined us in a conversation to unravel the extraordinary story of how the world’s most valuable company became inextricably entangled with China. Patrick shared the backstory behind Apple’s century-defining Faustian bargain and progressed through how he uncovered the untold story of Asia’s contract manufacturing history through Apple’s supply chain point of view. He unpacks the famous “Apple Squeeze” philosophy of paying suppliers minimally while providing invaluable training, and shares fascinating stories from characters like the ruthless negotiator Tony Blevins to the tragic figure of Jackie Haynes. Throughout the conversation, Patrick demonstrates how Apple inadvertently created China’s contract manufacturing capabilities and explains why the company’s current attempts to diversify to India face insurmountable cultural and political barriers. Last but not least, he argues that Apple’s very success in China has become its greatest vulnerability, trapped in a relationship where going too fast risks Beijing’s ire, while going too slow means remaining stuck in an increasingly untenable position.

“I quote a study that looked at 84 countries in terms of internal migration and India was dead last. That’s not a knock against the culture. It’s just not part of the culture that young women in particular leave home at 17, go to the other side of the country and work in a factory. You don’t have that. So what’s the phrase: Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Apple might have a plan, but like good luck upending 5,000 years of Indian culture to make it happen.” – Patrick McGee, author of “Apple in China”

Patrick McGee is a compelling keynote speaker, bringing over a decade of global journalism experience from the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. His award-winning reporting on Apple, electric vehicles, and emerging technologies offers audiences unparalleled insights into the forces shaping our digital future. As the author of Apple in China, he delivers a deeply researched, behind-the-scenes look at how the world’s most valuable company became entwined with America’s biggest rival. With his engaging storytelling and sharp analysis, Patrick McGee provides event attendees with thought-provoking perspectives on technology, business, and global markets. To host him for a speaking engagement, contact WWSG.