China's antitrust investigation into Google, which does not offer most of its consumer-facing services including search and email in the country, seems to make little sense on the surface, but analysts said the move could be seen as a warning shot to the US and a threat to the Android operating system.

China said it was opening an antitrust probe into Google, part of a series of actions Tuesday that also included tariffs on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas imports as well as restrictions on the export of certain metals.

China has announced a flurry of retaliatory measures against the U.S., including tariffs on imports of products such as coal, liquefied natural gas products and crude oil, as well as an antitrust prob