Tim Cook Visits China as State Media Targets App Store Practices
Apple's CEO attended a 50th anniversary event in Chengdu while Chinese state media pressured the company over App Store monopoly concerns.
Tim Cook made a notable appearance in Chengdu, China, attending an Apple event marking the company's 50th anniversary. The visit came shortly after Apple cut prices in the region.
But the trip wasn't all celebration. Chinese state media seized the moment to publicly call on Apple to address what they described as "monopolistic" App Store practices. That's a pointed shot at the walled garden that generates billions in services revenue for Cupertino.
The timing is hard to ignore. Cook showing up in person signals how critical the Chinese market remains to Apple's bottom line. Meanwhile, Beijing appears to be tightening the screws on how Apple runs its app marketplace — echoing antitrust pressure the company already faces in the US, EU, and elsewhere.
Apple hasn't publicly responded to the state media criticism.