2024-03-13 14:39:55
As the US House of Representatives considers a ban on the popular social media platform TikTok, China has condemned the American move on the Chinese video app and labelled the move “an act of bullying” by the US.
The House plans to vote on a bill that would give TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest assets or face a ban.
The divestation of TikTok’s assets would require the company to sell its assets to an American company if it wants to continue its operations in the US.
The popular short video app has over 170 million users in the US.
Reacting to the development, the Chinese foreign ministry warned the US about the vote on TikTok and called it “an act of bullying”.
“Even though the US has not found evidence on how TikTok endangers its national security, it has never stopped going after TikTok,” Wang Wenbin, a Chinese government spokesperson told CNN.
“This will eventually backfire on the US itself,” he added.
Wang also accused the American authorities of “resorting to acts of bullying” given they could not withstand fair competition.
He went on to say that the American move would disrupt market operations, undermine investor confidence and sabotage the global economic order.
US officials have expressed concerns over potential data security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership. They fear that the Chinese government could access user data and exploit the platform for propaganda or misinformation purposes.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that the goal is ending Chinese ownership – not banning TikTok. “Do we want TikTok, as a platform, to be owned by an American company or owned by China? Do we want the data from TikTok — children’s data, adults’ data — to be going, to be staying here in America or going to China?”
TikTok has criticised the bill, saying that the ban would unfairly target freedom of expression for millions of Americans.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to visit Capitol Hill to engage with senators regarding the proposed legislation.
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