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

By

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.



Erin Harrison is Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives, for TMC, where she oversees the company's strategic editorial initiatives, including the launch of several new print and online initiatives. She plays an active role in the print publications and TechZone360, covering IP communications, information technology and other related topics. To read more of Erin's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Why More Leads Won't Fix a Broken Lead Management Process

By: Contributing Writer    6/23/2026

When sales results start to stall, many organizations immediately look to the top of the funnel for answers. The assumption is simple: if revenue i…

Read More

Your Post-Quantum Readiness Starts at Y2Q Summit

By: TMCnet News    5/27/2026

Y2Q Summit is an executive conference focused on helping enterprises prepare for the coming era of quantum computing disruption, cybersecurity transfo…

Read More

Why Award Marketing Should Be Part of Every B2B Tech Company's Growth Strategy

By: Erik Linask    5/20/2026

Award marketing matters for B2B tech companies because industry recognition can strengthen trust, support sales and partner relationships, improve con…

Read More

Why Email Is Still the Most Underrated Layer of Modern Software Infrastructure

By: Contributing Writer    5/15/2026

Take, for example, the following scenario. A user requests a password reset, waits a few seconds, refreshes their inbox and nothing arrives. They try …

Read More

Jitterbit's Visionary Status Signals a Shift in the iPaaS Market

By: Contributing Writer    4/7/2026

As enterprise ecosystems grow more complex, integration has become less of a backend IT function and more of a strategic driver of business performanc…

Read More