Apple’s commitment to China’s tech market deepens as Tim Cook, the company’s CEO, recently announced the arrival of the Vision Pro headset in the mainland this year. The news comes from Chinese state media, citing Cook’s response to a media query during the China Development Forum held in Beijing. CCTV finance, on its Weibo social account, reported that Cook unveiled the headset’s China launch plan, further emphasizing Apple’s intention to ramp up research and development investments within the country.

This news follows a period of speculation regarding the Vision Pro’s availability in China. Some reports suggested a potential patent war with Huawei over the “Vision Pro” name might have been delaying the launch. Apple’s confirmation, however, suggests that any such disputes have been resolved, paving the way for the headset’s entry into the lucrative Chinese market.

However, Apple’s China ambitions come amidst a challenging time for the company. The Department of Justice in the United States is currently suing Apple over alleged monopolistic practices, and the company’s stock value has plummeted by $200 billion in recent weeks. Additionally, the European Union recently fined Apple a hefty €1.5 billion for anti-competitive practices. The success of the Vision Pro in China could be crucial for Apple to turn things around and emerge from this period of negative press. A strong showing in the world’s largest consumer market could help Apple regain investor confidence and solidify its position as a tech leader. The pressure is on for Apple to deliver with the Vision Pro, as its success in China could be the key to erasing a string of recent setbacks.