China and US Team Up to Tackle TikTok Issues
President Donald Trump’s meeting on Thursday with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, resulted in a series of decisions aimed at easing trade tensions; however, no agreement was reached regarding TikTok’s ownership. Following the meeting, China’s Commerce Ministry announced that China will collaborate with the US to effectively address matters concerning TikTok. No details were provided regarding any advancements in resolving the uncertainty surrounding the future of the widely-used video-sharing platform in the United States. The Trump administration had indicated that it might have finally secured an agreement with Beijing to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the two leaders will finalize that transaction on Thursday in Korea. According to the sources, China saw the addition of nearly one billionaire each day in 2024.
In a significant move, wide bipartisan majorities in Congress approved legislation that President Joe Biden subsequently signed, which would impose a ban on TikTok in the United States should it fail to secure a new owner to take over from China’s ByteDance. On a January deadline, the platform experienced a brief blackout; however, on his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to ensure its continued operation while his administration seeks to negotiate a sale of the company. Three additional executive orders were issued, as Trump, lacking a definitive legal foundation, prolonged deadlines for a TikTok agreement. In April, White House officials expressed confidence that they were close to finalizing a deal to separate TikTok into a newly formed company under US ownership. That situation deteriorated when China withdrew its support following Trump’s announcement of significantly increased tariffs on Chinese goods. Deadlines in June and September have come and gone, with Trump stating he would permit TikTok to keep operating in the United States in a manner that addresses national security concerns.
Trump’s directive aimed to facilitate an American-led consortium of investors in acquiring the app from China’s ByteDance, although the agreement is contingent upon approval from China. “However, the TikTok deal is not really a big thing for Xi Jinping,” said Bonnie Glaser. “China is pleased to allow Trump to announce that they have ultimately secured a deal. The question of whether that deal will safeguard the data of Americans looms large as we move forward.” A significant point of inquiry for the United States is whether this aligns with US law, given that a law was enacted by Congress, Glaser stated. According to a report published in September, approximately 43 percent of US adults under the age of 30 report that they regularly obtain news from TikTok, surpassing all other social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
A recent survey revealed that approximately one-third of Americans expressed support for a TikTok ban, a decline from 50 percent in March 2023. Approximately one-third expressed opposition to a ban, while a comparable proportion indicated uncertainty. According to the report, approximately 8 in 10 individuals who expressed support for banning the social media platform identified concerns regarding the risk to users’ data security as a significant factor influencing their decision. The discussion surrounding security focuses on the TikTok recommendation algorithm, which has directed millions of users into an unending flow of video shorts. China has stated that the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. However, a regulation enacted by Congress with bipartisan backing stipulates that any divestment of TikTok must involve severing connections with ByteDance. American officials have cautioned that the algorithm, a complex system of rules and calculations that platforms utilize to deliver personalized content, is susceptible to manipulation by Chinese authorities. However, no evidence has been provided by US officials demonstrating that China has made any attempts to do so.
