China backs companies' use of 'legal weapons' in US

China said Monday it supports Chinese companies using "legal weapons" in United States to protect ir "legitimate rights", amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over a range of issues including Chinese-owned social media app TikTok.

"China supports relevant companies in taking legal weapons to safeguard ir legitimate rights and interests, and will continue to take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," Zhao Lijian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Zhao said US actions to rein in Chinese digital firms were a "denial of market ecomy and fair competition principles that US has always vocated."

US President Donald  Trump ordered earlier this month sweeping but vague bans on dealings with Chinese owners of TikTok and messaging app WeChat, saying y were a threat to US national security, foreign policy and ecomy.

twin executive orders - one for each app - are expected to take effect September 20, or 45 days from when y were issued.

It remains unclear what TikTok orders mean for app's 100 million US users, many of m teenrs or young ults who use it to post and watch short-form videos.

Some US-based users of WeChat are suing Trump in a bid to block executive order that y say would effectively bar access in US to hugely popular Chinese messaging app.

In lawsuit, y asked a federal court judge to stop order from being enforced, claiming it would violate its US users' freedom of speech, free exercise of religion and or constitutional rights.