Apple has opened a new flagship megastore in Shanghai’s Jing’an District—its most architecturally ambitious location in mainland China to date. The launch, marked by a sweeping glass structure and immersive AR displays, comes at a time when the tech giant faces intensifying scrutiny in the United States over its deepening ties to the Chinese market.
The most vocal critic in recent days? Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, who has publicly accused Apple of prioritising access to China over national security concerns and ethical transparency.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Apple’s expansion in China is hardly new. The country is both a critical manufacturing hub and one of the company’s largest consumer markets, second only to the United States in terms of iPhone sales. But the timing of this new megastore is striking. It follows a series of renewed tensions between Washington and Beijing, including heightened rhetoric around data privacy, supply chain vulnerabilities, and human rights.
Barr has previously accused Apple of “kowtowing to Beijing,” referencing the company’s past decisions to remove certain apps—such as VPNs and news platforms—from the Chinese App Store. In recent remarks, he doubled down, saying Apple’s “economic dependency on China compromises its values and raises real risks to American interests.”
Apple’s Position
Apple, for its part, has remained characteristically tight-lipped on the political discourse. The company continues to emphasise its commitment to customer privacy globally and points to its use of end-to-end encryption and on-device processing as proof.
However, the company’s data operations in China remain a subject of concern. Under local regulations, Apple stores iCloud data of Chinese users on servers operated by a state-affiliated partner, and security researchers have questioned whether this setup meets the same privacy standards as in other regions.
Despite these tensions, Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly described China as an “essential partner,” and the new megastore—featuring the full suite of Apple devices, creative labs, and AR-based retail experiences—is clearly designed to reinforce that relationship.
Bigger Picture: The U.S.–China Tech Divide
Apple’s situation reflects a broader truth facing multinational tech firms: the era of frictionless global expansion is over. As the U.S. tightens export controls and both governments adopt more protectionist policies, American companies must navigate increasingly complex geopolitical terrain.
William Barr’s comments echo a growing bipartisan chorus in Washington urging greater scrutiny of U.S. tech firms operating in China. Whether this leads to regulatory consequences or shifts in corporate policy remains to be seen.
Final Word
The opening of Apple’s new megastore in Shanghai is more than just a retail milestone—it’s a symbol of the company’s continued attempt to straddle two very different worlds. With growing political heat on both sides of the Pacific, the question isn’t whether Apple can build beautiful stores in China.
It’s whether it can maintain its carefully managed neutrality as the global tech landscape fractures beneath it.
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