Google Faces Monopoly Investigation in China Despite 15-year Search Engine Ban

Google, the search engine giant that has been blocked in China for the past 15 years, is now under investigation for alleged monopolistic practices in the country, marking a new chapter in the tech firm's rocky relationship with the Chinese authorities.
Tl;dr
The Launch of an Investigation into Google: A Reaction to Trump’s Actions
China’s State Market Regulatory Administration has announced an investigation into Google, the California-based search giant. This move, reported by the state news agency Xinhua, is set to probe alleged violations of antitrust laws. The scrutiny on Google in the Asian giant is, in all likelihood, a response to a series of recent decisions by US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s Tariffs and China’s Response
Following his return to the White House, Trump imposed additional tariffs on products imported to the United States from China. Moreover, the Chinese government has announced that it will apply rates between 10% and 15% to certain goods imported from the US in response to Trump’s additional tariffs.
TikTok’s Critical Situation
Currently, TikTok is facing a critical situation in the United States. The social media platform is forced to sell its operations to a local conglomerate in order to ensure its continuity. This week, Trump suggested that a government-formed group could potentially manage the app in the US.
Apart from these specific events, the publication DW suggests that the investigation into Google in China has a “symbolic character”. This is considering that Google’s services, including its acclaimed search engine, have been blocked in China for the past 15 years by the local government’s order.
More Reactions to Trump’s Tariffs
In addition to the investigation, the Chinese government has established new controls on mineral exports and has added two American companies, the owner of Calvin Klein and biotechnology firm Illumina Inc., to a list of “unreliable entities”. Beijing officials argue this decision “will protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, in accordance with the laws”.
Previously, China had declared that it would take retaliatory measures to “firmly safeguard” its rights and interests, and has also filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the US’s “unlawful practices”.