China orders Apple to remove New York Times from app store

The New York Times has been removed from Apple's China App Store after an order from the authorities in Beijing.

The newspaper has attacked the decision, calling it an "attempt to prevent readers in China from accessing independent news coverage".

Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said: "For some time now the New York Times app has not been permitted to display content to most users in China, and we have been informed that the app is in violation of local regulations.

"As a result, the app must be taken down off the China App Store."

Ms Wu added that when the situation changes, Apple will offer the app again for download in China.

China has blocked access to the New York Times' website since 2012, after it ran a story claiming that former Premier Wen Jiabao's family controlled assets worth $2.7 billion.

The paper has asked Apple to reconsider its decision to withdraw the app.

New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said: "The request by the Chinese authorities to remove our apps is part of their wider attempt to prevent readers in China from accessing independent news coverage by The New York Times of that country."

Western media struggle to get past the strict censorship rules imposed by China's communist authorities.

It removes online content it considers politically sensitive, and has blocked Western websites and the services of Internet giants including Facebook, Twitter and Google.

China, the world's number two economy, is Apple's second-biggest market, and many of its products are manufactured there.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he was "not really aware" of the removal of the New York Times app.

"What I can tell you is that the Chinese government always encourages and supports the development of the internet," he said.

"But the development of the internet in China must comply with Chinese rules and regulations. This is a principle."