Amid the rush for the release of the iPhone 15, two reports emerged last week that China’s central government agencies have begun banning employees from using iPhones at work and on designated occasions. Now, according to Bloomberg, the White House has responded to these iPhone bans by China, calling them "an inappropriate act of retaliation."
This comment came from U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. The comments mark the first time the White House has responded to reports that China has banned iPhone sales.
"This appears to be consistent with the aggressive and inappropriate retaliation we have seen from the People's Republic of China against U.S. companies in the past," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Chinese government agencies were banning employees from using iPhones and other foreign technology devices. Bloomberg later reported that the iPhone ban would be expanded to more government agencies in the near future.
Earlier today, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back on reports that government agencies were banning the use of iPhones, while the government continued to criticize Apple and expressed concern about "the massive media exposure of security incidents related to Apple phones."
The current state of affairs seems a bit unclear. Apple has yet to respond to reports of a ban on iPhone sales in China, and Bryant's comments this afternoon did not acknowledge a formal denial of the matter at a Chinese Foreign Ministry press conference this morning.