I do agree this is a conversation worth having - it's not hugely relevant to Western consumers (obviously there's no deal to give all data to China or something

I do agree this is a conversation worth having - it's not hugely relevant to Western consumers (obviously there's no deal to give all data to China or something - they're still a US company), but it raises points about Apple's philosophy. They got the iPhone on China Mobile, the world's biggest carrier that is also owned by the Chinese state. They're allegedly set to make China their biggest market, and are making enormous profit there. It doesn't seem particularly unlikely that that deal did more good for Apple than for China Mobile or that there might be conditions attached to it. It'd be fascinating to hear what those could be. I have mentioned this before, and somebody mentioned there's a markup on iOS products from Hong Kong which could suggest there's something to the idea - and that people do know/suspect something too. You only have to look at the state of Android - specifically Google's version - in China to see something's up. Google have been locked out of China, Apple have been embraced. Of course Google have way more data to demand than Apple do - and perhaps the demands were so ridiculous Apple would have balked at the same - but it's an interesting comparison. It's also potentially the driving force that will mean Apple continue to take substantially all the industry's profit. Basically, it would be fascinating to have been in the room of Apple/China Mobile negotiations.