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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

On TikTok ownership, China says acquisitions should be ‘decided by companies’

Beijing also calls for open and fair business environment after Donald Trump proposes 50 per cent US ownership of the popular app

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Popular app TikTok became unavailable across the US after a federal divest-or-ban law took effect on Sunday. Photo: TNS
Victoria Bela
China has responded to United States president-elect Donald Trump’s call to put 50 per cent of TikTok ownership into US hands, saying acquisitions should be “decided independently by companies” in accordance with the law.
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Trump made the call on Sunday as a federal divest-or-ban law aiming to sever Tiktok’s ties with Chinese parent company ByteDance came into effect, which saw the app become unavailable across the US.

“For such actions as corporate operations and acquisitions, we always believe that they should be decided independently by companies based on market principles,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing on Monday.

“If Chinese companies are involved, they should comply with Chinese laws and regulations,” she added.

During the press conference, Mao pointed out that TikTok has been operating in the US for years and is loved by American users.

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“We hope that the United States can listen carefully to rational voices and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries to operate in the United States,” Mao said.

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