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TikTok ban

TikTok ban
US president-elect Donald Trump revealed his plan to temporarily block a nationwide ban on TikTok in January 2025, hours after the short-video app went dark to comply with a federal law. Over the past few years, efforts have been made in several countries to bar its use. Owned by Chinese company ByteDance, the social platform has been accused by foreign critics of posing a national security threat, a claim that TikTok has consistently denied. In June 2020, India banned TikTok, followed by a temporary block by Pakistan in October of the same year.
The US Justice Department and TikTok reached a US$400 million settlement to resolve allegations that the social-media company violated laws meant to protect children’s online privacy rights. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
US-China relations

TikTok, ByteDance agree to US$400 million settlement with US government

TikTok will pay US$300 million immediately and an additional US$100 million after entering an order vacating a prior consent decree.

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US-China relations

US lifts TikTok ban on government devices after ByteDance restructuring

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United States

US court rules tech firms must face lawsuits over social media addiction

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US-China relations

Trump nominee vows to sharpen US media challenge to China

Sarah Rogers says Asia would remain a priority for US-funded broadcasters, despite continuing turmoil and reduced operations at the agency.

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Sarah B. Rogers testifies in Washington during a Senate committee hearing on her nomination to be Chief Executive Officer of the US Agency for Global Media. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

According to a British ‌study, 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.

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United States

New York Mayor Mamdani puts city’s government back on TikTok

The city’s top official, himself a social media star, has reversed a ban on the app that was sparked by concerns over its Chinese links.

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Canada

TikTok gets green light to stay in Canada, reversing earlier ban

The app, owned by China’s ByteDance, has agreed to improve privacy and security, and to enhance protections for minors.

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TikTok Technology Canada will now be allowed to operate under new legally binding commitments to enhance its security. Photo illustration: dpa
US-China relations

Trump sued in bid to undo approval of TikTok’s US sale

The lawsuit is the first legal challenge to the deal with China’s ByteDance, but does not seek to force a US ban on the short-video platform.

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TikTok

TikTok ‘addictive’, EU finds in digital law probe

European Commission cites TikTok’s ‘highly personalised’ system, slams safeguards as ineffective.

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US-China relations

TikTok cites glitch as California probes alleged Trump-critical censorship

Governor Gavin Newsom launches state review after reports of blocked posts, as TikTok blames a data-centre outage days after its US deal.

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The ‌TikTok deal provides for American and ‌global investors to hold 80.1 per cent of the venture while ByteDance will own 19.9 per cent. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Who are the owners of the new TikTok US entity?

Private equity firms, tech giants and existing ByteDance backers make up the investor group behind the newly created US venture.

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A new investor-backed US entity will operate TikTok’s American business following years of political and legal uncertainty. Photo: Kyodo
TikTok

TikTok US joint venture seen resembling Apple’s China iCloud deal

ByteDance retains algorithms and intellectual property rights and remains the largest single shareholder of the new joint venture.

US-China relations

TikTok confirms deal to create new US venture, averting shutdown by a few hours

Beijing has not officially confirmed the agreement to secure the platform’s future for 170 million Americans.

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China trade

Opinion | From tea to TikTok: the middleman’s return is reshaping China trade

The old Canton system is re-emerging in a new guise as the likes of TikTok and Starbucks look to middlemen to navigate a divided global economy.

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Customers flock to the opening of the first McDonald’s restaurant in Xining, the capital of northwest China’s Qinghai province, on December 21, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
TikTok

China’s stance on TikTok deal seen as acceptance, not approval: analysts

In 2020, a similar arrangement between ByteDance, Oracle and Walmart fell apart after China revised its export control list.

ByteDance will license its AI recommendation technology to a newly created US TikTok entity. Photo: Reuters
TikTok

Exclusive | TikTok owner ByteDance’s valuation hits US$500 billion as US plan advances

Figure marks a record for China’s tech giant, which will divest its US entity into a joint venture that includes Oracle and Silver Lake.

US-China relations

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

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TikTok

TikTok deal, China slowdown, Vanke debt deadline

This week: TikTok owner agrees sale of US operations, China’s retail sales growth unexpectedly cools, US approves Taiwan arms sales and Jimmy Lai is found guilty. Next week: China Vanke bondholders conclude debt-extension vote, Chinese lawmakers gather, Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes to market, and more.

Photo: Reuters
China exports

How Chinese lifestyle brands are finding fans abroad with toys, tea and trends

From milk tea to blind boxes, China’s lighter consumer brands are winning worldwide recognition – though time will tell if the craze will last.

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Australia

Australia’s under-16 social media ban faces high court challenge

Critics say the world-first law, effective next month, infringes on political communication rights. Australia lacks an express free speech right.

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US-China relations

Trump eyes possible Xi reunion at Apec as diplomacy shifts into high gear

A Shenzhen Apec stop could be one of four in-person meetings as both sides signal improving ties ahead of a pivotal political year.

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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, in Busan, South Korea, in October. Photo: Reuters
United States

US senator demands answers to Trump’s TikTok divestiture plan

Ed Markey questions Trump’s executive order to sell ByteDance-owned TikTok to US investors, demanding clarity on algorithm control and security.

US President Donald Trump shows an executive order regarding TikTok on September 25, stating that a US version of the app would use a homegrown model of its algorithm, addressing a key issue for keeping the Chinese-owned platform operating in the US. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Trump-Xi meeting closer to truce than durable peace, China seen looking stronger

China agrees to major US soybean purchases, approves TikTok transfer, but gains ground in fundamental areas such as rare-earth leverage.

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US-China trade war

With US-China tensions back on the upswing, is the TikTok deal at risk?

Analyst opinion mixed on viability of deal for Chinese short video app’s US ownership, with ‘everything on the table’ after recent flare-ups.

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ByteDance

ByteDance’s higher valuation reflects resilience amid US divestment of TikTok

ByteDance has conducted employee share buy-backs since 2017, reinforcing internal confidence in the company’s long-term growth prospects.

ByteDance’s valuation was estimated to be about US$330 billion based on the purchase price. Photo: Shutterstock Images
US-China relations

Editorial | US-China pragmatism on display in proposed TikTok deal

By taking a very practical approach on the high-profile issue of TikTok, Beijing has pointed the way forward in bilateral ties.

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order on TikTok in the Oval Office at the White House on September 25 in Washington. Photo: AP
US-China relations

TikTok deal: for US-China investments, is this a new normal or reciprocity risk?

Following Trump’s executive order on TikTok, Beijing urges Washington to provide a level playing field for Chinese investors.

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TikTok

TikTok: how a viral app navigated turbulent times to secure its place in the US

A timeline of TikTok’s journey from obscure app to viral global hit.

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