Dance of Diplomacy: China’s Response to US TikTok Threat.
China has condemned the prospective ban on TikTok by the United States as “an act of bullying” with potential consequences that could recoil upon America. This rebuke, articulated by China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday, preceded a crucial House of Representatives vote on legislation compelling ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the prevalent short video platform, to divest its ownership to an American entity or risk expulsion from the US market, where it boasts an extensive user base exceeding 170 million.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, rebuked the US stance, asserting, “Even though the US has not found evidence on how TikTok endangers its national security, it has never stopped going after TikTok.” Wang contended that the US was resorting to bullying tactics in the absence of competitive success, warning that such actions would disrupt market dynamics, erode investor confidence, and destabilize the global economic framework. “This will eventually backfire on the US itself,” Wang cautioned.
Persistent apprehensions among US officials and lawmakers revolve around the possibility of the Chinese government coercing ByteDance into surrendering data amassed from American users of TikTok. Furthermore, concerns persist that the app could serve as a conduit for disseminating Chinese propaganda, misinformation, or influence among American audiences.
Despite these concerns, cybersecurity experts underscore that the apprehensions regarding TikTok’s impact on national security remain largely speculative. Notably, US officials have yet to publicly furnish evidence indicating Chinese government access to the data of US TikTok users. Nevertheless, lawmakers assert that their bill aims to preempt such scenarios.
The forthcoming House vote, governed by expedited procedures mandating a two-thirds majority for passage, appears poised for success, given the bipartisan consensus supporting it. Subsequently, the bill will proceed to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.
Addressing assertions that the bill constitutes a TikTok ban, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, chair of the House Select Committee on China, rebuffed such characterizations. “It’s not a ban,” he clarified. “It puts the choice squarely in the hands of TikTok to sever their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. As long as ByteDance no longer owns the company, TikTok can continue to survive … the basic ownership structure has to change.”
China has previously declared its firm opposition to any coerced divestiture of TikTok. Last year, a spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry emphasized that any sale or divestiture of TikTok would necessitate compliance with Chinese laws and regulations governing technology export and administrative licensing procedures.
On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, TikTok emerged as a prominent trending topic, with the hashtag “TikTok starts to fight back” garnering 80 million views. Many users supported the app, endorsing its efforts to contest the bill. Some users decried what they perceived as American hypocrisy.
In alignment with Beijing’s stance, the state-run Global Times, a nationalist publication, rallied to TikTok’s defence. In a recent editorial, it accused the US of overtly attempting to strip TikTok of its assets, portraying the move as emblematic of the erosion of free speech and the rule of law in the US.
