Apple issued a press release earlier today, announcing a GarageBand update which adds Chinese instruments and sounds:

Apple today announced an update to GarageBand that celebrates the rich history of Chinese music with new instruments and extensive Chinese language localization throughout the app. Building on GarageBand’s extensive collection of sounds, this update adds traditional Chinese instruments — the pipa, erhu and Chinese percussion — along with 300 Apple-created Chinese musical loops, giving users the power to tap into their creativity and make beautiful Chinese-inspired music right on their iOS device or Mac. GarageBand for iOS users also get two new Chinese templates for Live Loops, and new sharing options to popular Chinese social networks, so they can easily share their music creations with friends and followers across QQ and Youku.

There’s also a video of Tim Cook and Chinese musician JJ Lin making some music with these new Chinese instruments in GarageBand.

There’s no doubt that this is a very nice update to GarageBand which will be appreciated by many millions of users in China and around the world. But what I find even more interesting is that Apple took the time to publicize the update in a press release. It’s yet another example of Apple’s strong efforts in courting Chinese users and the Chinese government as the region becomes even more important to Apple’s future.

Below the break I’ve listed every single press release from Apple since the beginning of May last year and you’ll notice that five press releases are dedicated to China-specific announcements (in bold). The only other country-specific announcements are the UK Apple Pay announcement and Europe’s first iOS App Development Center in Italy.

• Apple Celebrates Chinese Music with GarageBand Update
• Apple & SAP Partner to Revolutionize Work on iPhone & iPad
• Apple Reports Second Quarter Results
• FY 16 Second Quarter Results Conference Call
• Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish
• Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference Kicks Off June 13 in San Francisco
• Apple Introduces 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• Apple Introduces iPhone SE — The Most Powerful Phone with a Four-inch Display
• Apple Advances Health Apps with CareKit
• Apple Announces Advancements to ResearchKit
• Amicus Briefs in Support of Apple
• Important Notice for Certain AC Wall Plug Adapters & World Travel Adapter Kit Customers
• Apple Reports Record First Quarter Results
• FY 16 First Quarter Results Conference Call
• Apple Opening Europe’s First iOS App Development Center in Italy
• New Music Apps from Apple Transform iOS Devices into Handheld Studios for Songwriters & Beatmakers
• Record-Breaking Holiday Season for the App Store
• Apple & China UnionPay to Bring Apple Pay to China
• Apple Names Jeff Williams Chief Operating Officer
• Apple Releases Swift as Open Source
• Epic 12.9-inch iPad Pro Available to Order Online Wednesday & Arrives in Stores Later This Week
• Apple Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results
• FY 15 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call
• Apple Launches New Clean Energy Programs in China To Promote Low-Carbon Manufacturing and Green Growth
• Apple Announces New ResearchKit Studies for Autism, Epilepsy & Melanoma
• Apple Updates iMac Family with Stunning New Retina Displays
• Enhanced Editions of Harry Potter Series Now Available Exclusively on iBooks for iPhone, iPad & iPod touch
• James Bell Joins Apple’s Board of Directors
• Apple Brings Apple Music, iTunes Movies & iBooks to Customers in China Starting Today
• OS X El Capitan Available as a Free Update Tomorrow
• Apple Announces Record iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus Sales
• iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus Arrive on Friday, September 25
• Apple Introduces iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus
• Apple Brings Innovation Back to Television with The All-New Apple TV
• Apple Introduces iPad Pro Featuring Epic 12.9-inch Retina Display
• Apple Introduces watchOS 2 with Native Apps and New Gold & Rose Gold Aluminum Apple Watch Sport Models
• Apple and Hermès Unveil the Apple Watch Hermès Collection
• iOS 9 Available as a Free Update for iPhone, iPad & iPod touch Users September 16
• Apple and Cisco Partner to Deliver Fast Lane for iOS Enterprise Users
• Apple Music Festival Brings Incredible Live Performances to Fans Worldwide in September
• Apple Reports Record Third Quarter Results
• FY 15 Third Quarter Results Conference Call
• Apple Introduces The Best iPod touch Yet
• Introducing Apple Music — All The Ways You Love Music. All in One Place.
• Apple Previews iOS 9
• Apple Announces News App for iPhone & iPad
• Apple Announces OS X El Capitan with Refined Experience & Improved Performance
• Apple Previews New Apple Watch Software
• Apple Pay Giving Shoppers Even More Ways to Pay
• Apple Pay Coming to the UK
• Apple Watch Arrives in Seven More Countries June 26
• Important Notice for Beats Pill XL Customers
• Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New $1,999 iMac with Retina 5K Display
• Apple Announces New Environmental Initiatives in China