I appreciated Patrick McGee’s series on Apple’s exposure to its Chinese integrated supply chain (The Big Read, January 19)

However, I’ve noticed that the media’s risk analysis for Apple, and similar companies, seems to focus on potential future trade and manufacturing embargoes instigated from the US.

This is a rather lopsided view which takes for granted Chinese government support for a significant revenue and employment stalwart for their economy.

Bearing in mind President Xi Jinping’s comprehensive control of Chinese life, driven by personal ideology and his friction with the US government, there is a risk that he could at some point in the future, in extremis, suddenly shut down Apple’s and other vendors’ supply chains.

Think of it like his Covid restrictions, but applied across the global economy.

That would be grave for the Chinese economy, but maybe worse for everyone else.

James Morris
Malmesbury, Wiltshire, UK