Partnering with Chinese internet company NetEase is what's made this development possible, the very same NetEase that operates games like World of Warcraft and Hearthstone in China already.
There's no official release date yet and no further information on what kind of alterations to the main game are even warranted for the Chinese market. What we do know is the Chinese version will only launch for PC and mobile devices, not consoles, when it finally makes an appearance.
“We are excited to bring Minecraft to Chinese audiences, and expect our large online community to embrace this preeminent game,” William Ding, CEO and founder of NetEase, Inc. announced. “With our deep understanding of the Chinese market and our ability to successfully launch world-renowned online and mobile games, we offer a strong platform for the introduction of Minecraft to China's vast user base.”