China Avoids Direct Response as Trump Claims TikTok Deal Nearing Completion
China’s government has declined to comment directly on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that a deal is nearly finalized to bring TikTok under American ownership.
Trump recently told reporters aboard Air Force One that the United States had “pretty much” secured an agreement regarding the popular short-video app and indicated that discussions with Chinese officials could begin early this week. He added, however, that he wasn’t confident the Chinese government would approve the arrangement.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s consistent position but offered no new information. “China has made its stance on TikTok clear on multiple occasions,” she said, without elaborating.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has until September 17 to divest its U.S. operations or risk a ban, under a law signed last year by President Joe Biden citing national security concerns. Enforcement of the law, originally set for January, has been delayed multiple times.
China has previously stated that any forced sale of TikTok would amount to an “export of technology” and would therefore require government approval. The app’s recommendation algorithm – considered a core factor in its global success – has been at the center of these concerns.
In April, escalating trade tensions between the two countries – triggered by U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese imports – reportedly led China to withdraw from a potential deal.
According to the terms of the law, ByteDance can retain no more than 20% ownership in TikTok’s U.S. operations, and there must be no coordination on data or algorithm governance between the American and Chinese entities.
Despite Trump’s optimism, experts remain skeptical. “I don’t see China agreeing to export the algorithm, even if other aspects of the deal are negotiable,” said Alex Capri, a trade policy expert at the National University of Singapore.
Meanwhile, U.S. tech outlet The Information reported that TikTok is preparing to launch a separate version of its app for American users before the September deadline. The current app would reportedly be phased out by March 2026, with users required to switch to the new platform to retain access.
TikTok, which serves more than 170 million monthly users in the U.S., continues to face mounting scrutiny over its ties to China. ByteDance and TikTok have not yet issued public statements regarding the latest developments.
