China calls US threat over TikTok sale 'sheer gangster logic' and 'daylight robbery'

Chinese Foreign Ministry said that executive order signed by US President Donald Trump to force a sale of TikTok within 45 days is “sheer gangster logic” and “daylight robbery”. Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in an interview that Trump ministration is taking actions against Chinese video-sharing social networking service on basis of presumption of guilt.

Le claimed that TikTok has been communicating with United States for nearly a year and has even me “big compromises” like instituting an all-American manment team and storing all American user data in US and Singapore. He ded that firm me its review policy and algorithm source code public, while hiring 1,500 Americans, and promising to create ar 10,000 jobs. 

“Even if it ends up being acquired, a substantial portion of money must be paid to US government. What kind of "art of deal" is this? This is sheer gangster logic and daylight robbery,” ministry website quoted Le as saying.

On August 6, Trump signed an executive order banning American citizens and businesses from doing any transaction with TikTok, its parent company ByteDance Ltd., and messaging app WeChat after 45 days. executive order stated that se steps have been taken because applications threatened national security, foreign policy, and ecomy of United States.

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'Tigers preying on rabbit'

Le asserted that TikTik is simply a platform for American public to showcase ir talent and spre joy and has thing to do with national security. He accused US government of ganging up like “tigers preying on a little rabbit” to suppress private Chinese company. He said that whole world is “watching with contempt looting and robbery by United States”.

During interview, Le said that Beijing needs to keep its relationship with Washington on right track and prevent from getting derailed. He highlighted importance of keeping communication lines open, and t putting dialogue on hold. He said that all issues, including difficult and complex ones, should be kept on table and re should be "rio silence" between two foreign ministries. 

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