China says TikTok ban would ‘come back to bite’ the US

BBC News:

China has warned that a proposed ban on TikTok would “come back to bite” the US, as lawmakers approved a bill that could lead to the app being banned.

The bill in the House of Representatives would force the Chinese-owned app to sever ties with China or become unavailable in the US.

US officials have long expressed concern about TikTok, citing potential national security risks.

TikTok’s owners have repeatedly rejected that it poses any threat.

On Wednesday, the bill passed with bipartisan support from both sides of the political spectrum in the House.

Officially known as – Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act – it now heads to the Senate, where it is unclear if it has enough support to pass.

If it does, the White House has said that President Joe Biden will sign it into law.

Ahead of the vote, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the US of “suppressing TikTok” despite the fact that it “never found evidence that TikTok threatens national security.”

“This kind of bullying behaviour that cannot win in fair competition disrupts companies’ normal business activity, damages the confidence of international investors in the investment environment, and damages the normal international economic and trade order,” Mr Wang added.

“In the end, this will inevitably come back to bite the United States itself.”

The move was similarly pilloried by Chinese media, with several newspapers featuring satirical cartoons ridiculing the US effort to ban the app.