"Apple Removes WhatsApp from China App Store on Government Order"

Apple removed the Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China on government orders, citing national security concerns. This move comes amid technological tensions between the U.S. and China, with the U.S. House of Representatives preparing to vote on a bill that could force the Chinese internet company ByteDance to sell TikTok. China has a history of blocking American apps and technology companies, and until Friday, Chinese users were able to download WhatsApp and use it with the assistance of a virtual private network.