China has issued a stern warning to the United States regarding the proposed ban on TikTok, asserting that such action would have repercussions for the US itself.
The warning comes amidst a congressional vote scheduled to determine the fate of the popular Chinese-owned app in the American market.
The House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that would compel TikTok to sever its ties with China or face prohibition within the US. Concerns over national security risks have been a longstanding issue for US officials regarding the app, although TikTok’s owners have consistently refuted these allegations.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized the US for its efforts to suppress TikTok, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting claims that the app poses a threat to national security. He denounced such “bullying behavior” as detrimental to international business confidence and warned that it would ultimately backfire on the United States.
The Chinese media echoed these sentiments, with publications featuring satirical cartoons ridiculing the US stance on banning the app. The Global Times accused the US of resorting to “ugly behavior” and misusing the concept of national security to forcibly seize control of TikTok.
In contrast to its popularity outside of China, TikTok is banned within the country, where a similar app called Duoyin is used under strict government monitoring and censorship.
The bill, officially named the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, is expected to pass in the House with bipartisan support. Its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.
If enacted into law, the bill would require ByteDance, the Beijing-based parent company of TikTok, to divest its ownership of the app within six months or face expulsion from US app stores and web hosting platforms.
TikTok has launched a campaign urging American users to contact their representatives to oppose the ban, prompting criticism from the House China Select Committee for allegedly manipulating and mobilizing citizens on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Despite previous attempts by former President Donald Trump to ban the app in 2020, current President Joe Biden’s administration has pushed forward with efforts to restrict TikTok’s operations in the US. However, Trump, now positioned to become the Republican presidential candidate, has reversed his stance, arguing that a ban would unfairly benefit Facebook.