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Apple’s China Loopholes Are Starting to Close

The technology giant operates the App Store and many other services without government licenses and local partners in China. That has left it vulnerable to regulatory risk in China as Trump attacks TikTok and WeChat in the U.S.

Art by Mike Sullivan
Art by Mike Sullivan
Aug. 18, 2020 7:01 AM PDT

In 2017, Apple rolled out a flurry of projects executives hoped would endear it to Chinese officials. It announced three new research and development centers in China and ceded control of Chinese user data to a local partner. Soon after, Apple’s newly appointed head of Greater China, Isabel Ge Mahe, had meetings with Chinese regulators. 

Instead of praising Apple’s overtures, the officials delivered a blunt message: Apple wasn’t untouchable and had better comply with all Chinese laws, according to a person briefed on the meetings.

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