Apple has removed Meta’s popular messaging app, WhatsApp, and its new social media platform, Threads, from the App Store in China. This move comes after Chinese authorities ordered the removal of these apps, citing unspecified national security concerns. The decision to remove the apps takes place amidst heightened tensions between the United States and China over various issues, including trade, technology, and national security.
The U.S. has threatened to force a sale of TikTok due to similar national security concerns, as TikTok is owned by the Chinese conglomerate ByteDance. However, apps like WhatsApp and Threads are not widely used in China. Instead, the Chinese market is dominated by the messaging app WeChat, which is owned by the Chinese company Tencent. Other Meta apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, remain available for download in China, although their use is restricted by the country’s “Great Firewall” network, which blocks access to foreign websites and apps.
In a statement, Apple said that it was obligated to comply with the laws of the countries in which it operates, even when the company disagrees with them. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp and Threads, has not yet commented on the situation.
Apple, which was once the world’s top smartphone maker, has recently been overtaken by its South Korean rival, Samsung Electronics. The U.S. company has faced challenges in China, one of its top three markets, with sales declining after Chinese government agencies and state-owned company employees were instructed not to use Apple devices at work. In response to these difficulties, Apple has been working to diversify its manufacturing bases outside of China.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been visiting Southeast Asia this week, making stops in Hanoi, Jakarta, and Singapore. During his visit, he met with various government officials and pledged to increase investments in these countries, demonstrating Apple’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.