I hope that it can and does, rather than allowing their product to be compromised by for-profit companies who enjoy local regulatory capture.
No one has to buy Apple products. There are myriad options. Those who push this regulation necessarily need to imply the opposite, as we see here.
It's false that consumer companies are widely compelled to grant third party access to their operating systems. This regulation is selectively applied.
If Apple plays hardball to the point that they are about to leave the market, we'll see if the histrionics were sincere or if it was dishonest manipulation toward encroaching on Apple's assets.
If Apple leaves then its regulation focused critics will have to buy other products themselves, continuously justify to the populace that having no Apple is better than a walled garden Apple, and continuously deal with the political fallout when that convincing largely fails.
That isn't practical. My guess is that this is bullying and bluster, and this looks to be Apple's guess as well.