Apple removed about 700 apps from App Store in China, including popular apps from Sogou (the Chinese alternative to Google) and the Pinduodo online store.
Apps were removed because they were updated outside of App Store without permission Apple. Every new application and updates must be reviewed by the App Store team for security and privacy reasons before they are made available in App Store. The company forbids developers from updating their apps outside of App Store.
Apple has tightened restrictions App Store in the past few months. The company removed thousands of illegal betting apps from Chinese App Store in August. Prior to that, the company removed all VPN applications from there due to the new laws of the country. Over the past couple of years Apple has removed several hundred thousand applications from App Store in China at the request of the authorities or for its own personal reasons.
Now App Store in China is generating Apple a significant portion of its revenue, so the company is careful to ensure that no apps break the rules. In addition, she is under pressure from the Chinese media, which constantly criticizes her.