Apple Criticized Over Plans to Set Up Shop in China's Peking University Library

Thousands in China are trying to put the kibosh on an Apple outlet in the library of one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious universities, according to media reports.

The technology giant came under fire in China over following news that it planned to set up shop at Peking University library, the AFP reported.

“Apple products are hugely popular in China, where fans have been known to queue for days to get their hands on the latest iPhone, but the plan to set up shop at the Peking University library appears to have struck a wrong note,” according to the report.

Thousands of users posted negative comments on the matter on Sina’s Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site similar to Twitter – many criticizing the idea that Apple could commercialize a place of learning.

“By Thursday, nearly 16,000 people had posted on the subject on most of them criticizing the move to hand over part of the university’s library to Apple,” the AFP said.

One such example is this post: “In the library, several students have expressed the view that introducing commercial operations will destroy the learning environment,” posted another Weibo user under the name Tianxiaqingcheng.

Meanwhile, the iPhone remains hugely popular in the country – a Wall Street analyst expects the next iteration of the iPhone to start selling in China as early as December, reported the International Business Times.

Apple officials said recently its second-quarter revenue in greater China reached $3.8 billion, six times that seen in the same period last year.

In related news, overseas unauthorized vendors, especially those in China, have faced recent examination, TechZone360 reported. Many bogus Apple Stores in China have had to close because of government inspections after reports of knock-off retail stores drew international attention.