China reacts to reports of US banning TikTok if its owner doesn't sell company

China’s government says it would oppose any U.S. plan to force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell the short-video service.

TikTok has ballooned its American user base to 150 million in a few short years.

But governments around the world are worried that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, might give browsing history or other data about users to Beijing or promote propaganda and disinformation.

The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. authorities were considering banning TikTok if ByteDance doesn’t sell the company.

“If the news is true, China will resolutely oppose it,” Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting said on Thursday, although she did not specify what that might entail.

She also warned that a ban would hurt investor confidence in the United States.

The debate about TikTok has been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology, as well as heightened tensions due to recent balloon politics and China’s relationship with Russia.

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