China warns US of consequences ahead of TikTok ban vote

China has warned that a proposed ban on TikTok would "come back to bite" the US, ahead of a congressional vote that could lead to the app being banned. The bill in the House of Representatives would force the Chinese-owned app to sever ties with China or become unavailable in the US. US officials have long expressed concern about TikTok, citing potential national security risks. TikTok's owners have repeatedly rejected that it poses any threat.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticizes US actions

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the US of "suppressing TikTok" despite the fact that it "never found evidence that TikTok threatens national security." He stated that this kind of bullying behavior disrupts companies' normal business activity and damages the confidence of international investors. He warned that these actions would ultimately harm the United States itself.

Chinese media reacts to the proposed ban

Chinese media, including the Global Times, published satirical cartoons ridiculing the US effort to ban TikTok. They accused the US of "ugly behavior" and abusing the concept of national security to seize the app "by force".

House vote on the bill expected to pass

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill, officially known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. It is widely expected to pass with bipartisan support. The bill would then move to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. If it passes, President Joe Biden has indicated that he will sign it into law.

Implications for TikTok and ByteDance

Illustration: logos-world.net

If the bill becomes law, ByteDance, the Beijing-based owner of TikTok, would be required to sell the app within six months or face a ban from US app stores and web hosting platforms. TikTok has denied any links to the Chinese government and has restructured the company to keep US data in the US. Former President Donald Trump previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020.