China Condemns Potential TikTok Ban as “Act of Bullying” by US
In a fiery response, China has labeled the possible TikTok ban as an “act of bullying” that would ultimately boomerang back on America.
The rebuke from China’s foreign ministry came just hours before a crucial House of Representatives vote on legislation that could compel TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the popular app to an American company or face expulsion from the US, where it enjoys a massive user base of over 170 million.
“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 spokesperson for the ministry, told CNN at a news conference in Beijing.
Accusing the US of “resorting to acts of bullying” when unable to compete fairly, Wang warned that such tactics would disrupt market operations, undermine investor confidence, and destabilize the global economic order.
“This will eventually backfire on the US itself,” he asserted.
US officials and lawmakers have long expressed worries that the Chinese government could coerce ByteDance into sharing data collected from American TikTok users. There are also concerns that the app could be used as a tool for Beijing to spread propaganda, misinformation, or influence American citizens.
Cybersecurity experts view the national security concerns surrounding TikTok as a potential threat, though no concrete evidence has been presented to show that the Chinese government has accessed data from US users. The bill being voted on in the House aims to prevent such a scenario.
The upcoming House vote requires a two-thirds majority for passage, a feat that seems likely given the broad bipartisan support. The bill will then move to the Senate for further consideration.
While some have labeled the legislation as a TikTok ban, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher clarified that it is not a ban but rather places the decision in TikTok’s hands to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party by changing its ownership structure.
China has previously stated its firm opposition to any forced sale of TikTok, citing technology export and administrative licensing procedures that must adhere to Chinese laws and regulations.
On Chinese social media platform Weibo, TikTok was a top trending topic with the hashtag “Tiktok starts to fight back” garnering 80 million views. Users voiced support for the app’s resistance to the bill, with some accusing the US of hypocrisy.
The state-run Global Times, a nationalist tabloid, also defended TikTok in an editorial, accusing the US of attempting to “rob” the app and highlighting flaws in America’s image of free speech and rule of law.
“The image of free speech and rule of law in the US is in tatters, and the latest bill is simply further evidence of this,” the editorial stated. — CNN
