Hong Kong/Beijing
CNN
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China has described a possible TikTok ban as “an act of bullying” that will backfire on America.
The feedback, made by China’s international ministry on Wednesday, got here hours earlier than a House of Representatives vote on laws that will pressure TikTok’s Chinese language proprietor ByteDance to promote the favored quick video app to an American firm — or face being barred in the US, the place it boasts over 170 million customers.
“Although the US has not discovered proof on how TikTok endangers its nationwide safety, it has by no means stopped going after TikTok,” Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the ministry, informed CNN Wednesday at a information convention in Beijing.
Wang accused the US of “resorting to acts of bullying” when it couldn’t reach honest competitors, saying such observe would disrupt market operations, undermine investor confidence and sabotage the worldwide financial order.
“It will finally backfire on the US itself,” he stated.
US officers and lawmakers have lengthy voiced concerns that the Chinese language authorities may compel TikTok’s dad or mum ByteDance at hand over information collected from US customers. In addition they concern that the app may function a instrument for Beijing to unfold propaganda, misinformation or affect Individuals.
Cybersecurity consultants say that the nationwide safety issues surrounding TikTok stay a hypothetical — albeit troubling — state of affairs. US officers haven’t publicly introduced proof that the Chinese language authorities has accessed the person information of US TikTok customers, an consequence that lawmakers say their invoice is meant to forestall.
The Home vote will proceed beneath fast-track guidelines that require a two-third majority for passage — which seems seemingly given widespread bipartisan assist. The invoice will then head to the Senate, the place its destiny is much less sure.
In latest feedback to reporters, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who chairs a Home choose committee on China, rejected characterizations of the invoice as a TikTok ban.
“It’s not a ban,” he stated. “It places the selection squarely within the arms of TikTok to sever their relationship with the Chinese language Communist Occasion. So long as ByteDance now not owns the corporate, TikTok can proceed to outlive … the essential possession construction has to vary.”
China has beforehand stated it could “firmly oppose” any pressured sale of TikTok.
“The sale or divestiture of TikTok includes know-how export, and administrative licensing procedures have to be carried out in accordance with Chinese language legal guidelines and laws,” a spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry stated in March final 12 months.
“The Chinese language authorities will decide in accordance with the legislation.”
On Chinese language social media website Weibo, Tiktok was ranked among the many prime trending subjects on Wednesday, with the hashtag “Tiktok begins to struggle again” drawing 80 million views. Many customers voiced assist for the app and its efforts to contest the invoice, which embrace a full-screen notification encouraging users to call their representatives; some accused the US of being hypocritical.
“Let me inform a joke: American society is liberal and democratic, and it has an entire market financial system,” stated a remark with 2,000 upvotes.
The state-run World Instances, a nationalist tabloid, has additionally sprung to TikTok’s protection.
In an editorial final week, it accused the US of “brazenly making an attempt to rob TikTok.”
“The picture of free speech and rule of legislation within the US is in tatters, and the newest invoice is solely additional proof of this,” it stated.