It's being reported this morning that Apple has started requiring new apps to show proof of a Chinese government license before their release on its China App Store, joining local rivals years that had adopted the policy years earlier to meet tightening state regulations.

Apple began last Friday requiring app developers to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" when they publish new apps on its App Store, it said on its website for developers.

An ICP filing is a longtime registration system, required for websites to operate legally in China, and most local app stores including those operated by Tencent and Huawei have adopted it since at least 2017.

To get an ICP filing license, developers need to have a company in China or work with a local publisher, which has been an obstacle for a large number of foreign apps. For more, read the full Reuters report. 

Side Note: It's "license" in the U.S. and in most English speaking countries it's Licence when it's used as a noun and "license" when used as a verb.