Apple is free to this move for business reasons, that is certainly true. But they can no longer also claim the moral high ground as a defender of personal liberty. Human rights do not stop at international borders. They cannot have it both ways.
> [Timothy D. Cook] made clear that Apple would obey American law — but only after trying to shape the law.
In the case of China here, the law was already passed. Apple is just conforming to the law.
Because most Chinese users are perfectly fine with the rule and law. They would rather follow what CCP said and have an Apple product.