China resists pressure to sell TikTok
Chinese Government disagrees with the idea of ByteDance being forced to sell TikTok’s U.S and would as a result prefer shutting down the app in the U.S. than selling it to any of the U.S. tech companies, according to sources.
While disclosing this on condition of anonymity on Friday September 11, 2020, the sources said that selling the short video app to the U.S. prospective buyers would make Beijing appear weak before the U.S., thus the decision to opt for closing the app down in the country.
Meanwhile, President Trump, in August issued two executive orders that required ByteDance, to sell TikTok to any of the U.S. tech companies like Microsoft.
The President gave ByteDance until mid September to finalize the deal and threatened to ban the app from the U.S. if it fails to do so before the deadline.
According to the sources, the Chinese government would use revisions it made on August 28 to technology exports list that would require Beijing approval before they are exported to delay ByteDance from reaching any deal.
When asked at a press briefing on Friday about TikTok and threat it faces from President Trump, Zhao Lijian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the U.S is going against the national security regulations. Zhao therefore urged the U.S. to end putting too much unnecessary pressure on foreign companies.
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