In a recent statement, the Chinese foreign ministry has voiced its disapproval of a U.S. House of Representatives bill that could lead to a forced divestiture or outright ban of the popular social media app TikTok. The spokesperson for the ministry, Wang Wenbin, criticized the U.S. approach, stating that there is “no fairness to speak of” when national security is used as a pretext to diminish the competitive edge of foreign companies.
The bill, which passed with overwhelming support, is part of a broader effort by Washington to address concerns over China’s influence on U.S. national security. This includes scrutiny over various technologies and infrastructure, such as connected vehicles, AI chips, and port cranes. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, would have approximately six months to sell its U.S. operations or face a potential ban if the bill becomes law.
Wang Wenbin argued that using national security as a justification for such measures goes against the principles of fair competition and international trade rules. He suggested that the United States is acting in self-interest under the guise of rule-based competition, which could ultimately have negative repercussions for the global trade system.
U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns that TikTok could share American user data with the Chinese government, a claim that TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew has vehemently denied. Chew assured that the company has never shared U.S. user data with China’s government and would not comply if asked to do so.
The debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S. has reached fever pitch in Washington, with legislators reporting an influx of calls from users who are against the proposed legislation. Despite these concerns, Wang Wenbin contends that the U.S. has not provided concrete evidence of TikTok compromising national security and accuses the U.S. government of abusing its power by targeting the company.
As the situation unfolds, TikTok’s approximately 170 million American users await the outcome, which could significantly impact their access to and use of the app. The ongoing debate underscores the tension between national security interests and the principles of fair competition in an increasingly interconnected digital economy.
