Epic is tied to Tencent. This is a risky move.

This should not matter, if it does then it would be hard to call the US a "constitutional state"/"state of law".

Motives matter, and taking the motives of foreign-owned businesses into account when dealing with one of the largest businesses in the US is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. What if the motive behind this is to just destabilize the price of Apple? What if it's part of a large campaign to destabilize a lot of US companies, not just this one?

Lawful actions conducted under whatever thinking is lawful, until the action itself no longer is. What you're describing is just euphemisms and excuses to start prosecuting thought crimes.

Law is meant to be kept , even if it isn't in you benefit.

That's the DEFINITION of "constitutional state"/"state of law".

It means the government can't just arbitrary bend the law if it fit's them on a case-by-case basis. If they want change they need to make a new law.

Even if Epic did act out on apple because of Chinese support the US has to handle the case fairly on basis of the facts of Apple abusing there marked power (which they obvious do, through not necessary illegally). Then, after or parallel to this they can decide how to handle the Chinese involvement, but this MUST NOT affect the given suite. That kinda what being a "constitutional state"/"state of law" is about. It's about being able to rely on the law being uphold independent on weather you family (or investors) might be crime lords or foreign powers or whatever.

I think Apple will be fine if it's forced to allow non-app store payments, Google seems to be doing fine

Except Apple and Google make money from different things. Google makes money from selling your data. So they are fine with giving away software and turn a blind eye to side-loading of apps. Apple makes money from selling hardware and making a cut on software.

Yeah, sure, because if Apple was no longer able to enforce a 30% cut on all in-app purchases, that would totally destabilize the price of Apple (stock, I assume). Because they make the hugely overwhelming share of their money from...in-app purchases?

Yeah 40% ownership. I was wondering how that would suss out with the Trump admin Tencent ban that will supposedly come down in a month and a half.

Just when the "Apple Fellow" Phil Schiller wanted to take some break, These recent App Store incidents starting from HEY will make it very very hard for him!

It's a great move. The industry needs a new platform hero since Valve seem completely distracted by VR.