# Episode 117: Talking Apple in China with Patrick McGee

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2025-05-12
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 118
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1d046e46

## Summary

Patrick McGee, author of 'Apple in China', explains how Apple’s massive investments and 'Apple squeeze' training programs inadvertently built China’s advanced electronics manufacturing sector, enabling companies like Foxconn, Luxshare, and TSMC to dominate the industry. He details the historical shift from outsourcing to China in 1996, the strategic partnership with Foxconn, and how Apple’s supply chain expertise was transferred to competitors, ultimately strengthening China’s position in EVs and semiconductors. McGee highlights the geopolitical risks of this concentration, including the vulnerability of relying on TSMC for advanced chips and the political leverage China now holds over Apple.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=6) Introduction: Patrick McGee and 'Apple in China'
- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=143) Apple's Manufacturing Strategy and the 'Apple Squeeze'
- [10:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=657) Apple as the Architect of China's Manufacturing Rise
- [18:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=1099) The History of Apple's Move to China: iMac, iPod, and Foxconn
- [23:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=1396) Foxconn, Luxshare, and the Rise of Chinese Suppliers
- [28:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=1728) Replicating the Model: Tesla, EVs, and Chinese Auto Industry
- [35:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=2148) IP Transfer, JVs, and the Political Shift in Beijing
- [41:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee#t=2512) TSMC, Semiconductors, and Geopolitical Vulnerability

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Apple (company)
- Foxconn (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Luxshare (company)
- BYD (company)
- Tesla (company)
- iPhone (product)
- iPod (product)
- iMac (product)
- Financial Times (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [We're Sorry! But Apple Ain't! - Remorseless RAM Racketeering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-04-09-were-sorry-but-apple-aint-remorseless-ram-racketeering) (The Amp Hour)
- [Supply Chains and Manufacturing with Charles Lin of TechDesign](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-06-supply-chains-and-manufacturing-with-charles-lin-of-techdesign) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [An Interview with Chrissy Meyer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-08-an-interview-with-chrissy-meyer) (The Amp Hour)
- [Making Cars and Going ‘Fabless’ | Next-Gen EV & AV](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-03-12-making-cars-and-going-fabless-next-gen-ev-av) (EE Times Current)
- [KonnectorPanik](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-27-konnectorpanik) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-12-episode-117-talking-apple-in-china-with-patrick-mcgee. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Circuit.