The US government is raising concerns about BOE as a Chinese military supplier. The proposed 2026 defense budget now requires an investigation into BOE, the iPhone screen maker. Apple relies heavily on this company, but officials worry about its ties to China’s military.
BOE made headlines earlier when Apple cut orders due to unauthorized manufacturing changes. However, the company rebounded and expanded its production. Now, BOE aims to increase its share of the iPhone display market even more. Officials fear that BOE might be supporting China’s military efforts.
Congress passed a bipartisan $852 billion defense spending plan. The House Armed Services Committee added an important amendment to this plan. The amendment directs the Department of Defense to evaluate if BOE as a Chinese military supplier deserves an official label. The committee worries that Chinese subsidies give BOE an unfair advantage in markets linked to military tech. This situation could threaten US military supply chains.
The amendment orders the Secretary of Defense to deliver a briefing by February 1, 2026. The briefing will decide if BOE or related companies should receive a military-civil fusion designation. Congress will only require this step if it passes the defense bill. The Senate must still approve it, and the President must sign it before September 30, 2025.
If lawmakers add BOE to the list, Apple should not face immediate problems. Currently, the designation does not block companies from operating in the US. Still, the label could stop BOE from supplying the US military in the future. The investigation follows a 2024 congressional letter that accused BOE of founding itself as a military and defense supplier. Neither Apple nor BOE has publicly addressed the new probe. As Congress moves forward, it will likely increase its scrutiny of BOE as a Chinese military supplier.
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