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China Reaffirms Position on TikTok as US Deal Talks Move Forward
China reiterates TikTok stance after Trump-Xi call: “Respect enterprise wishes, follow market rules.” Key questions remain on ownership, control & concessions.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-09-20
China Reaffirms Position on TikTok as US Deal Talks Move Forward

China has restated its firm position on the future of TikTok in the United States, even as Washington pushes forward with efforts to place the popular short-video app under US-controlled ownership.

On Saturday, China’s Commerce Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that negotiations should remain market-driven and compliant with Chinese law. “China’s position on TikTok is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the enterprise, and welcomes it to carry out commercial negotiations in accordance with market rules to reach a solution compliant with China’s laws and regulations, and strikes a balance of interests,” the ministry said.

The reaffirmation came a day after US President Donald Trump announced that a deal to transfer TikTok’s US operations into American hands was making progress, following a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.

Despite the momentum, key issues remain unresolved. Among them are the precise ownership structure of TikTok’s US operations, how much influence China will retain over its algorithms and data, and what concessions Beijing expects in return for allowing Washington to assert control over one of its most successful global tech firms.

TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has 170 million users in the United States. The app’s future has become entangled in wider US-China trade and technology tensions, with both sides viewing the outcome as a potential bargaining chip in broader negotiations covering sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and intellectual property.

China’s Commerce Ministry also urged Washington to ensure a fair playing field for Chinese companies. “It is hoped that the US side will work towards the same goal as China, earnestly fulfil its corresponding commitments, and provide an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for the continued operation of Chinese enterprises in the US, including TikTok,” the statement added.

The developments follow a framework deal reached earlier this week in Madrid, which was hailed by Chinese state media as a “win-win” solution. Under the framework, Beijing promised to review TikTok’s technology export licenses and intellectual property arrangements.

For Trump, the framework agreement marked a critical step in keeping TikTok available to American users. The US Congress had previously ordered a ban by January 2025 unless ByteDance divested its US assets.

He Yadong, spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry, reinforced the broader stakes of the talks during a Thursday briefing, expressing hope that the US would ease restrictions on Chinese firms. “We hope the US side will reduce barriers to trade and ensure fair treatment of Chinese enterprises,” He said.

As the world’s two largest economies navigate their fragile tariff truce, the TikTok negotiations have become a symbol of how deeply technology and geopolitics now intersect in shaping global commerce.
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