"US Moves to Ban TikTok Over China Links"

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill with overwhelming support, targeting TikTok for its ties to Chinese company ByteDance.

The bill, yet to be approved by the Senate, could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban if it doesn't cut off from its Chinese owner. China criticized the US move, accusing it of suppressing foreign companies unfairly and threatening to protect its companies’ rights abroad.

China's Commerce Ministry urged the US to uphold market principles and offered a defense of fair competition, while the Foreign Ministry accused the US of undermining fair competition and trade rules.

They likened the US actions to those of a bandit, arguing that using national security as a pretext to target successful foreign businesses lacks fairness.

Despite 352 US lawmakers favoring the bill and White House support, skepticism remains in the Senate, especially given TikTok's large user base of 170 million in the US. TikTok denies being influenced by China's Communist Party and has called upon users to oppose the proposed legislation.

The dispute over TikTok is part of broader US-China tensions spanning technology, trade, and human rights. The US has previously imposed restrictions on certain Chinese businesses and technologies for national security reasons, while China has condemned these actions as attempts to curb its growth.