Rudimentary tests suggest that HTTPS does function a workaround for domestic filtering of the App Store. For instance, I attempted to visit the HTTP version of a VPN app (which would allow circumvention of China’s filtering process) on the App Store from within China, but it didn’t work. After the attempt, other less sensitive links to iTunes stopped working for a couple minutes. I tried this several times with the same results. Meanwhile, the HTTPS version of the same app was easily accessible with no obstruction at all.