Reassessing China’s Technological Rise—Beyond the Racist Apple Narrative
The rise of China as a technological powerhouse is often narrated in Western discourse through a US-centric lens. A prominent example is the claim that Apple’s investments and operations were the primary driver of China’s tech development. Such narratives credit a U.S. company for China’s achievements, downplaying the role of China’s own policies, innovators, and companies. This report examines critiques of that interpretation and how it reflects a Western-centric viewpoint that undermines China’s indigenous innovation and state‑driven strategy. It also explores how this limited narrative misinforms Western policy, leading to miscalculations and ineffective engagement with China.
The “Apple Built China” Narrative
Journalist Patrick McGee argues that Apple’s massive manufacturing investment created conditions for China’s tech sector to flourish—a “Marshall Plan” effect whereby “China wouldn’t be China today without Apple.”1
While Apple’s supply‑chain investment undeniably benefited Chinese manufacturing, critics consider it reductive and biased to hail Apple as the primary engine of China’s tech development.
US‑Centric Bias and “Exclusive Innovation” Assumptions
Observers note that the “Apple‑driven China” story reflects a broader bias in Western thinking that tends to minimize Chinese agency. Pascal Coppens, for instance, describes how many in the West long dismissed China as a mere copycat nation.2
Catherine Thorbecke of Bloomberg argues that American tech exceptionalism—and the subtle xenophobia that underpins it—feeds the assumption that only Silicon Valley can innovate.3
Indigenous Innovation and State‑Driven Development in China
China has poured resources into science and technology, lifting R&D spending to roughly 2.5 % of GDP and surpassing the United States in key indicators like international patent filings.4
Industrial policies such as “Made in China 2025” demonstrate Beijing’s coordinated approach to moving up the value chain.5
Overlooking Domestic Tech Corporate Achievements
Huawei, founded in 1987, became a global leader in 5G through annual R&D outlays exceeding $20 billion—achievements largely independent of Apple.6
Similarly, companies such as Tencent, Alibaba, Bytedance, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have introduced world‑class innovations that Western firms now emulate.7
Misunderstandings and Policy Consequences in the West
When policymakers assume China advances only by leveraging Western technology, they underestimate its resilience and misjudge negotiation leverage. U.S. export controls, for example, have sometimes accelerated Chinese efforts to localize critical supply chains rather than hobble them.8
Conclusion
Attributing China’s tech success primarily to Apple’s presence is a simplistic, US‑centric narrative, and racist that overlooks China’s indigenous innovation, state strategy, and domestic corporate achievements. Recognizing China’s genuine drivers of innovation is essential for Western policymakers to craft realistic and effective engagement strategies.
Footnotes
1. 1. Hannah Beech, “Review of Apple in China,” The New York Times, 2025.
2. 2. Pascal Coppens, “The West’s Blind Spots on Chinese Innovation,” nexxworks blog, 2024.
3. 3. Catherine Thorbecke, Bloomberg Odd Lots Podcast episode, 2025.
4. 4. Dan Wang, “China’s Hidden Tech Revolution,” Foreign Affairs, 2023.
5. 5. Global Times, Commentary on “Made in China 2025,” 2024.
6. 6. BBC News, “Ren Zhengfei says US underestimates Huawei,” 2019.
7. 7. Phil Baker, “Apple in China: A Review,” Baker on Tech, 2025.
8. 8. Robert D. Atkinson, “Assessing China’s Innovation Capacity,” ITIF Report, 2024.