[notasmartman]

Lets not kid ourselves, security isn't the impetus behind this. It's politics. And politics is just grown men acting like children, while pretending that they're looking out for our best interest, all the while screwing us more than the people they are protecting us from.

[nwatson]

This is won't stop corrupt Chinese officials with money to burn, and also will play out just like the BYOD scenario for mobile phones in corporations in the US:

BYOD phenomenon:

  * company issues BlackBerry or Windows 6.x phones
  * executive has money to burn, likes the iPhone/iPad
  * executive brings iPhone/iPad to work and tells I.T. guy "hook me up or you're fired"
  * I.T. makes an exception, deals with it
  * other people start bringing their iPhone/iPad to work
  * corporate policy adjusts and everybody can bring iOS/Android, corporate issues iOS/Android
  * players like Citrix, MobileIron, etc., have a market for Mobile Device Management

Chinese gov't evolution:

  * corrupt official has money to burn
  * corrupt official buys MacBook/iOS/iPad or Samsung, etc.
  * corrupt official uses his stuff at work despite policy
  * underlings want to show off too and bring their devices
  * Hmmm, except the US gov't still depends on BlackBerry, at least DHS

[s_q_b]

The game in politics is to convince those who think like adults that your selfish idea is actually beneficial to the nation.

National security is something with which real adults concern themselves, so it makes a good excuse for local oligarchs to erect trade barriers to protect their interests.

By debunking the argument they make ("security"), often the true impetus becomes clear ("profit.")