Autocratic, stubborn and unchanged since the war Apple was not on a list of companies approved by China's cyberspace regulator.

A total of 26 app stores operated by companies including Tencent, Huawei, Ant Group, Baidu, Xiaomi and Samsung have submitted filings to the authority, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

Beijing has been expanding oversight of smartphone and mobile app usage over the past several years. The country now requires mobile app stores and mobile apps to submit business details to the government.

The Tame Apple Press is suddenly concerned that these rules are causing consternation in the industry that publishing apps in the world's second-largest economy will become very difficult and many apps may need to be taken down.

If that happens, Apple might find it difficult to sell its already expensive gear in its second biggest market.