Global cab-hailing service provider Uber had already announced its launch to more cities in China recently, which is expected to take effect on Feb. 8. (Photo : Reuters)
Internet giant and WeChat operator Tencent has recently removed the presence of Uber in its popular messaging app after it shut down a number of accounts promoting the car-hailing app's services.
This decision comes after Uber's biggest competitors such as the United States' Lyft, Southeast Asia's GrabTaxi and China's Didi Kuaidi announced they are to enter a global ride-sharing deal.
Tencent is one of the major stakeholders of Didi Kuaidi.
For Uber supporters, the move of Tencent was a way to fend off the app. Nonetheless, Tencent clarified that the closing of accounts was due to violation of rules such as the alleged gathering of private information of users.
In line with this, Uber also took a counter-measure on the Alibaba-backed social networking site Weibo, urging its users to take their side.
According Wang Yichao, Uber's public relations vice director, Tencent did not provide adequate evidence to support its accusation that Uber has "malicious marketing activities."
This is not the first time that a renowned Internet service blocked another. Back in 2013, Taobao, an online shopping site run by Alibaba, prevented visits from WeChat.
Tencent has also blocked the music sharing platform Xiami Music, while JD.com gridlocked Alipay, Alibaba's payment platform.
Prior this recent case, Tencent has already blocked Uber's official WeChat account in March.
Both Uber and Didi Kuaidi argue that they have grabbed the upper hand in the Chinese market. Didi Kuaidi revealed that it took a large 83.2 percent of the local market share in 2015's third quarter, while Uber remarked that China could surpass the U.S. as its largest market before 2016 starts.
