Disputes with China / US votes to sell TikTok

2024-03-15 08:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Communist leadership in Beijing reacted with harsh criticism to the recent decision of the US Congress on the Tiktok application.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: "If so-called national security reasons can be used to deliberately suppress superior companies from other countries, there can be no talk of honesty." In doing so, the US acts according to the logic of a knight-robber. The American side has never presented evidence that Tiktok endangers national security. "The way the US is handling the TikTok issue makes it clear to the world whether the US's so-called rules-based order serves the world or only the US itself."

Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong said China will take "all necessary measures" to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its companies abroad. The United States must "respect the principles of the market economy and fair competition" and stop "unjust oppression of foreign companies," he continued.

Tiktok rejects all the concerns of the American side

The company's chief executive, Shou Chew, said he would take legal action against attempts to bring the company and the Tiktok platform under the control of American investors. Tiktok insists the aim of the law is to effectively ban the app in the US, while US politicians say they simply want to ensure that Chinese authorities cannot influence Tiktok in a way that harms US interests.

Shou Chew noted that the law will give more influence to a small group of other social media companies." Tiktok's boss also stated that the new law threatens 300,000 jobs in the United States. According to Tiktok's own information - there are 170 million users in the USA.

Supraparty majority in the House of Representatives

The US House of Representatives recently overwhelmingly approved a bill that aims to force Chinese internet giant Bytedance to sell its Tiktok subsidiary within six months. Otherwise there is a risk of a nationwide ban on the Tiktok platform, which is widely used especially by young people. If there is no change in ownership, the law could result in Tiktok being banned from US app stores.

Now the decision of the US Senate is awaited. In the Senate, where President Joe Biden's Democrats have a small majority, there are both supporters and critics of the plan from both parties. One of the concerns is related to the fact that the decision to ban Tiktok can be challenged based on the right to freedom of speech enshrined in the US Constitution. Biden called on the Senate to quickly address the issue. He has signaled that he will sign the law. The dispute has become a major issue in the US election campaign. Lawmakers from both parties are receiving many calls from young users who are angry about the Tiktok ban and reject the law to ban it./ DW