Over 300 Chinese Engineers and Technical Staff Recalled from Foxconn's India Plant
Concerns Rise Over Technology Outflow Amid Chinese Authorities' Pressure
Foxconn, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer that produces Apple iPhones, has reportedly instructed its Chinese employees stationed in India to return to China. This has raised the possibility that Chinese authorities may have pressured the company in an effort to prevent technology outflow to India and Southeast Asia.
On July 2 (local time), Bloomberg News reported, citing anonymous sources, that Foxconn recently urged Chinese engineers and technical staff working at its iPhone factories in India to return home, resulting in the withdrawal of more than 300 Chinese employees. It is now reported that only support staff from Taiwan remain at the Indian factories.
Foxconn, which operates large-scale iPhone manufacturing plants in China, has established factories in India to diversify Apple’s production base and increase local output. Technical staff from China have been dispatched to India to train local employees.
Foxconn’s move to bring Chinese employees back reportedly began about two months ago. Although the exact reason is unclear, Bloomberg interpreted the decision as being related to pressure from Chinese authorities, who earlier this year instructed regulatory agencies and local governments to prevent the transfer of technical personnel or equipment to India and Southeast Asia.
The withdrawal of Chinese staff is expected to affect the efficiency of iPhone assembly lines in India. Apple is currently planning to increase production of its new iPhone 17 models in India, so this withdrawal could pose a setback for those plans.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously praised the skills and expertise of Chinese workers, emphasizing that the main reason most iPhones are produced in China is not simply due to cost advantages. Industry insiders have pointed out that the withdrawal of Chinese staff could delay the training of local workers and the transfer of technology, potentially leading to increased production costs.
India began mass-producing iPhones four years ago and now accounts for one-fifth of global output. Apple plans to produce most of the iPhones sold in the United States in India by the end of 2026.
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