Chinese Embassy defends TikTok against potential forced sale in meeting with congressional staffers: report

The Chinese Embassy has held conferences with Capitol Hill staffers to protect TikTok from a probable pressured sale, in accordance to a report.

The meetings took put with Chinese diplomats following the Dwelling handed laws with an mind-boggling bipartisan vote very last month that would force Chinese divestment from TikTok or see the app banned, Politico noted.

Two congressional staffers, just one from the House and the other from the Senate, informed the outlet on ailment of anonymity that the Chinese Embassy initiated get hold of and downplayed nationwide security fears about TikTok.

In one meeting, the embassy reported that banning the social media application would be unsafe for U.S. traders who keep ownership of guardian firm ByteDance, in accordance to Politico.

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In another conference, Chinese diplomats argued that TikTok was staying dealt with unfairly because it is a Chinese business and that other firms outdoors of China would not be treated the exact same way, the staffers told the outlet. 

TikTok advised Politico in a statement that its report was “absurd” and that the company experienced no know-how of any conferences in between the Chinese Embassy and congressional staffers. The Chinese Embassy advised Politico in a assertion that it was lobbying for all Chinese organizations to be treated relatively, not just TikTok.

Fox Information Digital reached out to the Chinese Embassy for remark but did not instantly hear again.

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The legislation, led by Property China Pick Committee Chair Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Unwell., would block TikTok in the U.S. if ByteDance does not divest from it inside of 165 times of passage. It would also need it to be purchased by a place that is not a U.S. adversary.

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TikTok’s critics have long termed the social media application a countrywide protection risk. They have cited concerns about the Chinese government’s means to leverage its electricity in excess of ByteDance to entry sensitive consumer data, even in the U.S., a thing the organization has denied. 

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.