In what amounts to a serious environmental breach or a continuation of China's anti-Apple PR blitz -- or both -- Chinese regulators are scrutinizing a pair of Apple suppliers in China over pollution allegations.
The factories in question, located in Kunshan, an electronics manufacturing hotbed about 40 miles west of Shanghai, are reportedly dumping large amounts of heavy metals into local rivers. The plants are owned by Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group and UniMicron Technology. Pollution or no, both plants are among Apple's 2013 suppliers.
Foxconn is best known for alleged worker rights abuses, which have been cited as reasons for riots and suicides at Foxconn factories.
Foxconn complies with environmental regulations, it said in a statement.
UniMicron conducts daily water inspections to prevent pollution, the company maintained.
This may be part of a so-called PR war (or "smear campaign," if you prefer) China launched against Apple in March, when the company was featured in a state-run television special documenting its substandard service in China.
The anti-Apple bent of Chinese media has continued despite an official apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook, and despite Apple's pledge to help victims of a recent earthquake. Indeed, the earthquake pledge has been used against Apple: There is no proof of any assistance to victims, The People's Daily has claimed.
