As the first publicly traded company with a market value exceeding $3 trillion, Apple is not only a technology giant but also a significant political actor on the international stage. According to a review in the Washington Post of the book Apple in China, CEO Tim Cook interprets international political trends and invests heavily to develop a red supply chain. The book highlights the complexity of Apple's partnerships in China, with engineers often seeking assistance from Chinese counterparts in urgent situations, a situation that can appear quite ironic.

The book narrates how Apple has developed in China, especially through collaborations with manufacturing giants like Foxconn, rapidly establishing production capabilities. Today, China stands as Apple's second-largest consumer market, and its workforce and vast economic scale have transformed Apple's production processes. While Apple's accomplishments in China are notable, they have also attracted criticism regarding how the company operates in an extreme political environment.

Amid a backdrop of labor movement suppression under Xi Jinping's regime, Apple's political adaptability under Cook's leadership has allowed the company to navigate this authoritarian landscape relatively unscathed. However, whether Apple serves merely as an instrument of Chinese interests remains an open question. McGee's book implies that while Apple has transferred production and technology, it has inadvertently nurtured future competitors like Huawei.

Ultimately, this work provides not only a historical account of Apple's business in China but also prompts deeper reflection on the complex dynamics between the increasingly powerful Chinese tech industry and American enterprises.