Part 6/14:
A pivotal moment transpired in May 2016, when Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing and engaged with officials at what the analyst calls China’s "White House". During this visit, Apple publicly emphasized a "Cook model" of cooperation, which, while denying direct imitation of China's joint venture model, involved a different set of strategic exchanges. Apple committed to investing approximately $55 billion annually in Chinese factories—a figure multiplied fivefold to $275 billion over five years—signaling its deepening commitment to local manufacturing.