China urges lawful balance after TikTok US divestment deal accord

China said on Thursday it hopes a lawful and balanced solution can be achieved following the agreement to transfer TikTok’s US operations into American hands, stressing that any arrangement must comply with Chinese regulations and fairly reflect the interests of all parties involved. The comments come amid heightened scrutiny of cross-border technology deals and growing regulatory pressure in the United States.

Framework based on mutual respect

Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian told a regular briefing that economic and trade teams from both countries had previously outlined a basic framework to address issues such as TikTok. The understanding, she said, followed a phone call between the two heads of state and was built on cooperation, mutual respect and equal consultation to manage sensitive commercial disputes.

Call for fair business environment

He urged Washington to work “in the same direction” as Beijing and to honor its commitments by providing a “fair, open, transparent and nondiscriminatory” business climate for Chinese companies operating in the US. Such conditions, she added, are essential for maintaining stable operations and supporting the “steady, sound and sustainable” development of bilateral trade and economic relations.

Background to the TikTok agreement

TikTok last week signed a deal to sell its American business to a US-led joint venture that includes Oracle, a move aimed at securing the platform’s future in the country. The transaction followed legislation passed in the United States last year requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest most of its US assets or face a nationwide ban. The outcome is being closely followed in markets such as Türkiye, where policymakers and investors track global tech regulation for its wider economic impact.