TikTok owner ByteDance earns praise from Chinese social media for rejecting US sell-or-ban ultimatum
The company would also prefer to shut down TikTok’s US operations rather than divest it after exhausting all legal options to fight the US sell-or-ban measure, according to a Reuters report on Friday that cited four sources.
Of the 52 comments to ByteDance’s denial on Jinri Toutiao, seven extolled the firm for “having a backbone” and sticking to its principles in spite of a potential commercial backlash in the US. Four other comment praised the company for “never bowing down to the US”.
On Weibo, China’s biggest microblogging site, the reaction to ByteDance’s denial noted broader issues at play. Some commenters pointed out that TikTok’s problems in the US have become political and that “a sale would be seen as treason”, while others added that ByteDance “wouldn’t dare” divest the platform’s business in America.
TikTok chief executive Chew Shou Zi faces reporters after a meeting with Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, in Washington on March 14, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg
TikTok chief executive Chew Shou Zi had earlier expressed optimism about the social media platform’s legal position. “The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail again,” Chew said in a video message posted on Wednesday, moments after US President Joe Bidensigned into law the legislative measure against TikTok.
The Chinese government, meanwhile, has indicated that it would strongly oppose a forced sale of TikTok. Privately held ByteDance is subject to Chinese laws, which means regulatory authorities can veto any deal involving the sale or transfer of the platform’s technology.
Biden has set a January 19 deadline – one day before his term is to expire – for the sale of TikTok’s US operations, but he could grant a three-month extension if it is determined that ByteDance is making progress.
