China suggests it is open to a US deal on TikTok after all

China has given the strongest indication yet that it is ready to secure a deal This will keep TikTok running in the US. The country previously claimed it would prevent any forced sale of the app, but said something different after President-elect Donald Trump indicated he would do so. TikTok between American and Chinese interests.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said: “When it comes to actions such as operating and acquiring companies, we believe that they should be decided independently by companies in accordance with market principles.” . “If it concerns Chinese companies, Chinese laws and regulations must be taken into account.”

Mao noted that TikTok “has played a positive role in promoting employment and consumption in the United States” and expressed the ministry’s hope that the United States “will earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for the market.” Entities from all countries.”

On Sunday, a law banning TikTok in the United States went into effect on Sunday. Video sharing app . Users were unable to download it from app stores and even people abroad who had a TikTok account in the US were unable to access it.

Service was restored hours later after Trump pledged to sign an executive order on Monday, following his inauguration, “to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions go into effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.” The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped prevent TikTok from going dark prior to my order.

according to wall Street Journal, Tik Tok and Founder Zhang Yiming has a key contact that could pave the way for at least partial US ownership of TikTok in Elon Musk. He reportedly spoke with a Trump confidant in late 2024 after the law seemed likely to take effect. Zhang is said to have majority control of TikTok’s parent company through voting rights, but does not currently hold an executive position at ByteDance.