I wonder if this has anything to do with Apple's focus on the Chinese market. Google could effectively hand off a tightly wound partnership to an established Chinese company in Lenovo that can then leverage Android more effectively in a head to head battle with Apple.
In the interim, Google keeps its hands clean and doesn't enter into the discussions that plague any sort of success in the Chinese marketplace.
Apple will never compete for serious market share in China no matter what happens. They'll be lucky to hold onto 5% to 7% of that market. The domestics will dominate, due to nationalism, price, and those companies better understanding what Chinese consumers want. There's a reason Android already has 80% (and climbing, as iOS loses market share) of China.
Good point. The Chinese market is all about political approval and you're expected to bend over backwards for them. But then again... Google has pretty much burned that bridge pulling out of China.
In the interim, Google keeps its hands clean and doesn't enter into the discussions that plague any sort of success in the Chinese marketplace.