Hong Kong
CNN
–
For many of America’s 170 million TikTok users, US President Donald Trump’s move to delay a legal ban on the popular social media platform was cause for celebration.
But in China, where TikTok’s parent company is based, the reception has been less positive, largely because Trump has suggested he could ask the company to divest a 50% stake. avoiding a shutdown and suggested tariffs on Chinese goods could depend on whether Beijing approves a potential deal in the future.
When asked about Trump’s vision for TikTok’s future, China’s Foreign Ministry said that “the operation and acquisition of companies” should be “decided by the companies” and in accordance with Chinese law.
The US should “earnestly listen to the voice of reason” and “ensure an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment” for companies from all countries, spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.
Hours after his inauguration on Monday, Trump issued an executive order delaying for 75 days the implementation of a controversial law that requires TikTok to be banned in the US unless it sells to a buyer from America or one of its allies. her.
The executive action followed a promise by Trump on Sunday that he would delay enforcement. TikTok said security allowed it to come back online after it was blacked out for more than 12 hours over the weekend.
The delay will help the Trump administration “determine the appropriate path forward in an orderly manner that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans,” the order said.
Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent days that he might be open to a US buyer buying half of the company and running it as a 50-50 joint venture with its current Chinese owner ByteDance.
A joint venture involving a US firm with a 50% stake in TikTok would soften the letter of the controversial law, although it is unclear whether US lawmakers or TikTok, which denies it poses a national security risk to Americans, will accepted it.
On Chinese social media, where TikTok’s fate has emerged as one of many attempts by the US to thwart Beijing’s technical prowess, Trump’s suggestions were met with disdain.
Tens of millions of users on the social media platform Weibo piled on hashtags related to the potential 50-50 ownership, with many condemning the “robbing” of the US government.
“Apple and Tesla should also hand over 50% of their shares to Chinese companies then,” said one comment with thousands of likes.
“Then we need 50% control of Nvidia!” another commenter said, referring to the American chipmaker.
“China will not let ByteDance kneel,” another comment said, referring to TikTok’s parent company. “Robbery does not change its nature just because it changes from 100% to 50%,” the comment added.
Media giant ByteDance does not operate TikTok in China, but its sister app Douyin is popular domestically.
Meanwhile, an editorial in the nationalist state tabloid Global Times in Tuesday looked at the handling of the US ban and concluded that “the trap that some Americans set for TikTok has trapped them.”
“The political manipulation of an over-security concept against TikTok has not only caused swings in the emotions of the American public, but has also led to ‘deep personal pain’ for some who rely on it for their livelihoods,” the editorial read. .
TikTok and fees
Despite the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s fate, both the US and China have appeared to show their interest in dialogue as the new administration begins.
In a phone call with Trump on Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a “new starting point” in US-China relations and emphasized their “broad shared interests”. Trump noted that the call included discussion of TikTok.
Xi also sent Chinese Vice President Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration, the most senior official Beijing has ever sent to a US presidential inauguration.
Trump’s executive order on TikTok stands as one of a series of signals from the newly sworn-in president that he is willing to negotiate with Beijing, despite campaigning on a tough stance on the country, the US’s main geopolitical rival.
Trump on Monday also refrained from imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, something observers suggested could be first on his agenda. While on the campaign trail, Trump threatened tariffs of over 60% on Chinese imports into the US, and Beijing is preparing for tougher economic competition with the US.
When asked about those tariffs on Monday, Trump said the duties he put in place as president the first time were still in place. He did not specify a time frame by which he might impose more tariffs, although tariffs against Mexican and Canadian goods could take effect on February 1.
But Trump also suggested the tariffs could be tied to TikTok’s fortunes, raising questions about the kind of hard bargains the president might have in mind in the coming months.
In comments in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump floated tariffs of up to 100% on China if Beijing did not approve a possible future deal.
“If we wanted to do a deal with TikTok and it was a good deal and China didn’t approve it … I think ultimately, they would approve it because we would impose tariffs on China, maybe,” he said, suggesting that wasn’t the only approach he could take.
Beijing has previously suggested it has the legal authority to block any deal involving TikTok, saying such a sale or divestiture would involve “export technology” – an apparent reference to the potential sale of the app’s proprietary algorithm. .
Trump ally and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also joined the fray to discuss TikTok’s future, alluding to the “need for change” in comments Sunday on X, the social media platform he owns. According to Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials are discussing a possible option that involves selling at least part of the US version of the app to Musk’s X.
Musk noted how the X is not available in China. Most major US-owned technology platforms are blocked in the country due to Beijing’s tight controls on speech and information under the so-called Great Firewall.
“I have been against a ban on TikTok for a long time because it goes against free speech,” Musk wrote. “That being said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America but X is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. Something has to change.”
