THE potential ban of TikTok by the United States, a country that always boasts of its freedom of speech, is “truly ironic,” as said by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that would force popular short-video app to break with its Chinese parent company or face a nationwide ban.
The bill passed overwhelmingly by 352 votes in favor and 65 against in a bipartisan vote.
Asked to comment on the bill, Wang explained the difference between China’s policies toward foreign social media and the U.S. attitude towards TikTok.
“China’s policy on foreign social media is not at all comparable to the U.S. approach to TikTok. As long as they comply with Chinese laws and regulations, we have always welcomed all kinds of platforms, products and services to enter the Chinese market, and this rule treats all foreign enterprises equally and is not discriminatory,” said Wang Wenbin, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“TikTok is registered in full accordance with U.S. laws, operates in a legal and compliant manner, and is subject to the supervision of the U.S., but the U.S. side is trying every possible means to use its national power to suppress it by not only imposing a ban, but even forcing it to break with its parent company. It is truly ironic that a country that boasts of freedom of speech and a free market economy would use state power to suppress a specific enterprise!” he added.
Earlier this week, Wang slammed US’s “gangster logic” and said that Washington had found no evidence that TikTok was a threat to national security.
“When you see something good in someone else, you try to get it for yourself. This is the logic of a bandit,” said Wang Wenbin.
He also warned that a potential ban will ‘eventually backfire’.
On the other hand, US President Joe Biden backs the potential TikTok ban and promised to sign it as soon as it lands on his desk. The White House has publicly backed the measure, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calling on lawmakers to ‘see this bill get done’.
Meanwhile, TikTok accused US senators of staging what it calls as a predetermined vote to ban the social media platform in the US and is trying to strip 170 million Americans of their constitutional right to free expression.
“This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression,” statement of TikTok.
US Senators, on the other hand, will take their time to decide on the bill with Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, saying that only the Senate will review the legislation.
However, Schumer did not offer any indication of a timetable.
