New York Times gets smacked down in China — with a little help from Apple

Apple has cut the cord to any China-based New York Times iPhone readers.

The Times reported on Wednesday that Apple removed both the English and Chinese-language versions of the newspaper's apps from the iTunes store on Dec. 23. Other news publications are still available for download.

Apple told the NYT that Chinese authorities had flagged the app as a "violation of local regulations."

The puzzling part about the take-down is the lack of communication between the NYT and the Chinese government. Authorities reportedly worked only with Apple, leaving the paper in the dark about the removal.

When Mashable reached out to Apple for more information about the app removal Apple spokesman Fred Sainz responded with the same statement given to the NYT.

The statement reads: "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. When this situation changes, the App Store will once again offer the New York Times app for download in China."

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The NYT has connected the removal with the timing of a story about the Chinese government getting too cozy with iPhone manufacturing. The government closely monitors media and censors many websites and online platforms.

The app was the only way for readers in China to legally access NYT content since 2012 when the paper's website was blocked by the government.