Apple’s iPhone 14 series, which is expected to officially launch in September, is said to be delayed. A recent report claimed that ongoing political tensions between China and Taiwan could cause Apple to delay releasing the iPhone 14 series.
It all started when Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, which China did not like. For those wondering how the escalating political tensions affected the launch of the iPhone 14 series, Apple outsourced manufacturing of its chipsets to Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC. At the same time, China is a major supplier location for Apple’s iPhone components.
Apple has reportedly urged Taiwanese suppliers to comply with China’s new rules. They prohibit labeling products as “made in Taiwan, China” or “Chinese Taipei.”
Supplies from Taiwan to Pegatron’s factory in Suzhou, China, which manufactures products for US companies such as Microsoft and Taiwan, have been stopped by China. These shipments are withheld by customs as they check the shipping documentation for any mention of Taiwan or the official designation “Republic of China”.
During her tour of Taiwan, Pelosi was photographed with Pegatron Vice Chairman Jason Chen and other business leaders from the chip industry. A trade war could result from existing tensions and hamper production of future iPhones before they are released.
