Last week, users in China mysteriously saw the iTunes Movies Store and iBooks Store shut down. At the time, it was unclear why the services went down, but now, The New York Times reports that the two stores were ordered to shut down by the Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Film, and Television.
Originally, Apple had received approval to launch the iTunes Movie and iBooks Stores in China, but the Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Film, and Television reportedly just recently came into the situation and ordered that they shut down. At this point it’s unclear why exactly the Chinese government ordered that the two stores shut down, but it certainly surprising considering that Apple has generally held a strong relationship with China, unlike a lot of American companies.
An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the shut down, but said the company hopes to make the services available again as soon as possible:
“We hope to make books and movies available again to our customers in China as soon as possible,” an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement.
The report goes on to note that China president Xi Jinping recently held a meeting focused on the country’s notoriously strict Internet policies with Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei, and other leaders of Chinese companies. Xi reportedly wants China to stop relying so heavily on American companies like Apple and focus more on growing Chinese companies like Huawei and Alibaba.
This news comes on the heels of reports that Apple’s iPhone SE is already having an impact on the successes of companies like Huawei. Additionally, it was recently revealed that Apple has refused several requests to hand over its source code by the Chinese government, something that obviously doesn’t help the company’s case.
Apple originally introduced iBooks and iTunes Movies in China last September alongside Apple Music. It’s unclear when – or if – the services will come back.
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The Chinese Communist Party really is cancer to the whole world and must be destroyed.
Why are you so aggressive? Its another world with its own rules and life, and you say – it must be destroyed. It seems USA became a Soviet Union in one moment and no matter does countries want it or not, “democracy” should be brought there, with blood, deaths and crime. No matter. Whats the difference between communism and this kind of “democracy” then?
A government agency, especially a communist one, is not a “world”, certainly it doesn’t give or sustain life. And “democracy” doesn’t need to be brought there or to anywhere. Blood, death, crime, are synonymous with government as a rule and absolute, regardless of what flag its dressed up in.
i have to agree with Jake. some will say this isn’t a communist issue but indeed it is exactly what a communist government does. they control everything the people consume! The Chinese government is extremely shadowy and it is somewhat scary how corrupt officials are. they build zero trust by doing such thing. Lets face it, besides corporate espionage sponsored buy the government Apple has been one of the best things to happen to China. And if they really think companies won’t leave china for manufacturing they will be surprised when you brake trust.
myke2241, its a bit tricky, but what country are talking about – china or …? But chinese says it openly, its national interest and no more, no matter what it labeled with
The issues in China are CHINESE issues – they are not Communist issues. Know the difference.
Im from Russia, and believe me i still can say – «god bless america», there was a moment in the end of Soviet Union, when we decided we want no more useless cold war, we wanted to be in the future without wars and thought like we stoped – others should do the same. But US didnt, NATO betrayed agreement of stopping expansion. More than 25 years gone, there is no more communism, like i believe in China too, there is no USSR, but NATO still exists and expanded up to our borders. Can you believe if Russian armed forces were stating in Mexica or near California? No, but US do it. NATO was created only for opposing Soviet Union, its a kind weird, do you still live in the past? Believe me – when soviet union existed, people just lived their lives in good world and they weren’t so much thinking about communism if ever do it, and be communists, just did science, arts, wanted to be cosmonauts and fly to the mars. We didn’t think to destroy US. Can you understand this? We’ll do it as backfire only if you’ll try to destroy Russia, the system of guaranteed retaliation will do it even if the case of doom’s day. Can you say that you constantly thinking about dominating US over the other planet? I believe that no – just living the comfort inner space and sometimes hearing something about disgusting Russia or China. It reminds me the situation if Soviet Union didnt stop existing and all its old goverment genseks stood still on their places, and like this way Washington genseks stood on their places and continues to fight and demonize with Soviet Union, trying to fall it apart even after stoping the conflict. Lets live in peace, please :) And please think about not being Soviet union, we see it clearly from our part of the world, experience and background. Its bad sign, US became that type of state it was afraid most of all. Even one party in the form of democrats and republicans, all the same.
In China, what we in America considered last names, or family names, are stated first in China and first names last. So when referring to President Xi Jinping respectfully, it would be “Mr. Xi…” or “President Xi…”, not “Jinping…” or “President Jinping…”. The latter would be the equivalent to referencing Barack Obama for his statements and then later saying “Barack…”.
Doing business in China is kinda like a game of head and tail.
If it’s head they win, when it’s tail you loss.
Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your point of view) globalisation is everywhere and there is nothing anybody can do to stop it.
They probably want time to review the whole catalogue and make sure there is nothing against china, and that it all puts china in a good light…they will also need to remove anything that promote free thinking etc, anything sexual or relating to the LGBT community etc…more or less, the stores need censoring — which will be interesting to see how Apple deal with that.
China is like the Mafia of the world. There is no fair competition with them and they will do whatever they can to run you out of business.
I’m waiting for a big acquisition or similar strategic move by Apple to more heavily invest in and establish roots in China.
What do you expect from a world bully? they pollute the world, kill innocent people, cover things up, people have fake freedom, fake food, fake cosmetics, fake religion and all of their rich people send their kids and money to other countries… under communism, their citizens are the ones to suffer.