China’s widespread COVID restrictions are partly responsible for Apple accelerating plans in recent weeks to shift some production outside China. The Wall Street Journal reports the move would likely bring along scores of the suppliers within the complicated network behind the company’s iPhones, tablets and other high-value electronics. 

Apple is telling suppliers to plan more actively for assembling Apple products elsewhere in Asia, particularly India and Vietnam, and reduce dependence on Taiwanese assemblers led by Foxconn. 

The company is acting after turmoil at its biggest iPhone manufacturing site, a Foxconn facility in Zhengzhou, China. Analysts say the message to suppliers suggests Apple no longer is comfortable having so much of its business tied up in one place.

Any moves by Apple could reach beyond its own supply chain if other companies follow its lead, triggering potentially big changes in one of the world’s critical electronics supply chains.