App developers in China have filed a complaint against Apple with Chinese regulators, claiming antitrust violations against the tech giant's alleged unexplained removal of apps from the App Store and a refusal to communicate regarding issues with developers in Chinese, per the WSJ.
- Apple's response: The company told WSJ that most Chinese submissions to the App Store get approved within 48 hours, reiterating that all of its guidelines apply equally across the world.
- Why it matters: The complaint comes at a fraught time for Apple in China, as it attempts to both maintain its foothold in its massive market and comply with the Chinese government's online scrutiny and censorship — highlighted by its recent removal of VPN apps from the App Store used to bypass the nation's Great Firewall.