Apple supply partner Pegatron is denying media reports claiming that Chinese customs officials were holding and scrutinizing shipments to and from its factories in China. The reports claim the supply blockage was due to a Pegatron executive’s meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (via DigiTimes).
In a filing by the company with the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the company said that iPhone production at the company’s Chinese sites is running as normal and shipments continue.
The reports began circulating following a meeting between Pegatron vice chairman Jason Cheng and Pelosi on Wednesday at a lunch hosted by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. TSMC founder Morris Chang and chairman Mark Liu were also reported to be in attendance.
The Chinese government, which sees the island of Taiwan as a breakaway province that will someday be reabsorbed, has been angered by Pelosi’s visit.
In addition to rumors of Chinese-imposed shipping issues, the communist country is currently conducting live-fire military drills in and around the Taiwan strait. Chinese media on Friday reported that its missiles flew over Taiwan during its latest drills.
Nikkei has reported that Apple told suppliers on Friday that China has started strictly enforcing a long-standing rule that Taiwanese-made parts and components must be labeled as being made either in “Taiwan, China” or “Chinese Taipei,” sources familiar with the matter told Nikkei Asia, language that indicates the island is part of China.