An examination of Didi Chuxing, Apple’s investment, and concerns over AI-driven mobility data flowing to China. Discusses data sovereignty, national security, and the broader implications of global tech cooperation with Chinese platforms.

January 19, 2019
It was revealed on May 12, 2016, that Apple of the United States invested 1 billion dollars (110 billion yen) in Didi Chuxing, China’s largest taxi-hailing app company.
Anyone watching NHK’s “America vs. China” right now with discerning eyes must surely feel a chill.
Ten taxi companies in Osaka are using the AI of China’s Didi Chuxing, and their data is being sent to China.
On this point alone, Japanese citizens would be justified in criticizing Japan…how naïve—no, how foolish—can Japan be?
Do they truly understand what kind of country China is, and yet still do this?
This Chinese ride-hailing company is said to be aiming ultimately to control all urban transportation systems.
Naturally, the Chinese government is supporting it as a national project.
Any country that entrusts itself to this company is essentially granting China the power of life and death over its systems.
While media such as the Asahi Shimbun and NHK fabricated issues like the Moritomo and Kake scandals and tied up Japan’s government for a year and a half, China was infiltrating Japan in various ways in direct proportion to that time.
What chilled me further—and made me think perhaps not only Japan but even the United States was remarkably foolish—was this:
while searching the spelling of Didi Chuxing, I found that the morning edition of the Nikkei dated May 14, 2016 (published May 25, 2016) carried an article titled:
“Apple invests 110 billion yen in China’s largest taxi-hailing app.”
“Apple of the United States invested 1 billion dollars (110 billion yen) in Didi Chuxing, China’s largest taxi-hailing app company,” it reported.
What, I wonder, is Apple doing now regarding this matter?