Dalai Lama? Apple's never heard of that guy: http://tinyurl.com/yejd2do

What can I say?  Anyone who thinks that Apple is going to stand up to the Peoples Republic of China should get off of their computer and travel back to a time when (if there ever was) a corporation gave a flying fuck.  Wake up, we can all enjoy the Ferret's colorful take on events with out resorting to name calling. 

Dogma bites Karma?

I propose Steve Jobs as the 15th Dalai "Jobs" Lama.
I am sure the Chinese government will approve.

Beijing actually invites the 14 Dalai Lama back to China to return to the life of noble monk and spiritual leader that he really is, and not the CIA propaganda backed political figure head with bogus Nobel Peace award to boot.

Times running out, and we'll soon need to find the 15th Dalai Lama.

Especially when it comes to "enforcing" the political policies of another country. Apple's job is to sell stuff, not to tell people what side of an issue to take. Apple was all about the "Think Different" campaign. Why can't they think differently than the Chinese government?

That's not exactly objective reporting on this story.

While the Dalai Lama is a religious figure to many, he is also a political heavyweight. The evidence is pretty clear that he's a creature of the CIA. No wonder China is wary of him.

Extrapolating, it would seem that Apple would support the German persecution and holocaust against the Jews during WWII because it was consistent with German law!

SO...

Apple doesn't just behave like a bunch of Nazi's in the way it treats it's customers - but apparently is also devoid of any morals when it comes to treatment of human beings at large.

Shame on them!!!!

obviously this is yet just more shameful toadying to the communists!

but instead of fullmination, i have a more practical approach: A GUILT TAX!

[I propose this as a /chinese-speaking/ FRIEND of china, not one the knee-jerk morons who is scared of this great country].

apple, google ("do no evil") , yahoo, cisco, microsoft & other corporate cowards can stop with the obviousl crocodile tears ('we choose to engage china') & instead do something that will actually make a difference.

- scholarships for 'pledged' MBA students
- endowed chairs at chinese law schools
- legal defense funds for dissidents
- fund private schools in Tibet
- a 'pledge' in the HR code of conduct

The "pledge' refers to the idea that international companies co-ordinate with philanthropists to add a litmus test for freedom for scholarships at western schools: applicants would be required to write a personal essay on the topic "explain how plan to use your education to promote the cause of political liberty & the rule of law in your country".

Likewise, foreign companies operating in china (or other countries opposed to democracy, eg the muslim world) would also have require a similar pledge from new hires (especially executives) that would be published on the company web site.

The effect over time of this form of 'soft boycott' on the chinese government will be that they will need to respond to internal (not "foreign") pressure from their own emerging elites because these individuals will realize that their educational & career opportunities will otherwise be circumscribed by co-operating with an oppressive regime.

(Likewise this same policy can be applied to HR in international organizations:it will be a career-ending move to work for the CPC or the PRC without a public renunciation of the regime).

The bottom-line is that western companies have a moral obligation to actually DO SOMETHING (ie really drop the hammer) if they are going to have blood on their hands while making profits.

The "blood diamonds" example in Africa is a very instructive precedent about corporate responsibility in action, which can be adapted to deal with the cyber commodities which are instrumental in propping up an illegitimate regime that rules by force & lies.

Just ONCE I'd like to see Nick the Ferret go ONE DAY without writing an article about Apple Just ONE DAY.

Every friggin' day it's the same thing. The Ferret gets a hold of an Apple story, bastardizes is to the point that is pure fiction, and tries to pass it off as fact.

I wish the Inq. would wise up already and FIRE this two-bit hack!

The reason the iPhone is not selling is the simple fact that the average yearly income in China is about $8K a year and that's in the urban centers! Yeah...they're going to run out and buy a $600 phone. Everyone thinks 1 billion Chinese is a HUGE market...not so much.

Now they're stealing the Jobs right off the llama's back. The llama of my Lama is my Lama's llama. Woe be to it.

[quote] its Iphone is being ignored by the Chinese and millions of those are still sittng unsold in its Chinese partners' warehouses[/quote]

Any source for this, last I've seen is that they have sold 300k of them thus far in China. I'm hoping you are not just making up 'facts' to support your complaints.

"According to Apple it is only obeying the laws of China in refusing to support those who really do think different, rather than those who think they think different merely because they've bought some Igadget."

LOL

still, apple is a corporation. they care about share prices and not much else. they aren't going to get in trouble in china over 6 apps. they will let another company stand up for rights, they just want your wallet.

Typical of the ferret he carefully ignores the facts. There are different iTunes stores for different countries. Not all music is available in all stores, and neither are all applications. Local laws and licensing limit what can be sold in each store.

If the China office of Apple are told by the Chinese government that they aren't allowed to sell Dalai Lama apps then they have two options: remove them or shut up shop. Removing them only effects the Chinese store (and the Chinese people are rather well experienced in bypassing these kinds of limitations). Shutting up shop isn't going to make the Chinese improve their attitude on freedom of speech. Not much of a choice really.

This is all clear now, Steve is just planning for old age. You see, any religious or political dissident in China, after being executed, has their organs harvested. Steve is simply trying to secure a supply of cheap fresh livers when the one he bought here in the states goes bad.

Don't think Steve Jobs being Buddhist himself will be happy with this.

I think that apple really needs to understand that a chepaer Iphone is what is needed to sell there phone's and gadgets in general...

I am unaware of this but these tactics if true will make for a sourapple!...

I think that I need to do some research in this area as I think speaking out about something is what keeps checks and balances... No doubt in my mind will apple contact you about this crap.. They need to understand that monopolys of any kind as well as unions kill companys. Checks and balances are there to enforce government in (us) at least. Although they hardly work anymore. (Freedom of speech) is there to enforce checks and balances on Individuals and Busness tactics... The original governement was a bright Idea but Ignorance has killed any ability for it to be used properly. I hope that apple realizes. That if this is true... I will not buy anymore of there products... Someone may think that this is a harsh statement, While also saying your writup is bad and talking about them. No, Untrue I think that open information is the way to go and if apple thinks that it is ruining there reputation.... And its untrue(I understand) But if not then everyone needs to know! These idiots in control are killing themselves and forceing us to do it with the knife.