How Apple, Tim Cook give into China while pushing back against the US

Free-world CEOs, presidents and prime ministers are now being forced by China to make fundamental choices. Do they stand for free speech, the rule of law and human rights — or for primarily making money?

Over the past 30 years, Western leaders have dreamed they lived in an earthly paradise where they could stand for both. But the ruling Communist Party of China under paramount leader Xi Jinping is now making it increasingly clear that if you want to do business with his country, you’d best embrace the party line. Take Apple. The world’s most valuable brand is a powerhouse in Washington, DC, maintaining armies of lawyers and making large donations to the political parties and to lobby organizations like the US-China Business Council. It has instant entrée to the White House, Congress and any other center of American power.