China is accusing TikTok of “unjustly” acting like a “bandit” in response to a measure that is currently in Congress that might eventually result in the app being blocked in the US.
The parent business of TikTok would have six months to leave the company or risk having the app banned under the House of Representatives’ plan.
Although there is still a long way to go in the Senate, President Joe Biden has stated that he will sign it should it pass Congress.
In order to safeguard its interests, Beijing has promised to take “necessary measures”.
ByteDance, a Chinese corporation established in Beijing and registered in the Cayman Islands, is the owner of TikTok.
US politicians have voiced concerns about the app, claiming it poses a national security danger since it may contain data belonging to Americans that is in the hands of China. The owners of TikTok have denied the claims.
With 352 members voting in favour of the new law and 65 against, the House passed the bill on Wednesday in an unusual display of cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Wang Wenbin stated that the bill’s vote “runs contrary to the principles of fair competition and justice” during a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.
“When someone sees a good thing another person has and tries to take it for themselves, this is entirely the logic of a bandit,” Mr. Wang stated.
He Yadong, a spokesman for the Chinese trade ministry and another official, declared that China would “take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests”.
On Thursday, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that he was assembling an investor group to submit an offer for TikTok. “It’s an amazing business,” he stated to CNBC.
It’s uncertain if the law has enough support in the Senate to pass Congress, so whether he gets the chance will depend on that.
Having previously supported a ban, Republican Donald Trump has stated that he is now opposed.
Can TikTok be banned in the US?
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew stated that the law will take “billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses” when it passed the House.
“It will also take away your TikTok and put over 300,000 American jobs at risk,” Mr. Chew stated in a video that was uploaded on both TikTok and X, the platform that was originally known as Twitter.
A number of TikTok “creators” expressed fear to the BBC on Wednesday that if the measure passes into law, it would negatively impact their lives and enterprises.
“I purchase products from small businesses and display them on my platform – I improve them,” stated Ophelia Nichols, a designer from Alabama who has over 12 million followers on the network. “It’s the small businesses that will suffer…you have to worry about that.”
Mr. Chew of TikTok also pushed its users to oppose the decision and get in touch with their legislators; as a result, several members of Congress’ offices have already received a deluge of calls from irate voters.
The strategy has irritated US politicians. In an interview with the BBC, Texas Republican Chip Roy, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, expressed his opinion that TikTok “shot itself in the foot” with the lobbying effort.
“[That is] demonstrating that they want to use the power of their technology to persuade people and inform them through their viewpoint,” he said. He added that this was “the propaganda angle that we’re seeing out of TikTok.”
In China, TikTok and other social networking sites are prohibited.
Chinese users, on the other hand, use a comparable software called Douyin, which is only accessible within China and is subject to government monitoring and restriction.
By- HHM
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