China accuses US of ‘abuse of state power’ as possible ban of TikTok looms

China’s government is speaking out against the Biden White House over a possible ban of TikTok.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning claimed earlier this month that the U.S. habitually politicizes technology and trade issues and uses them as a tool and weapon in the name of national security.

Another spokesman for the Chinese Ministry, Wang Wenbin, argued that the U.S. should not interfere with TikTok’s data-storing practices and accused the U.S. of abuse of state power to hobble and plunder foreign companies.

The direct approach by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Chinese state-run outlets helps indicate how important Beijing views TikTok and how key it believes it is to protect the app from being kicked out of the U.S. or forced out of Chinese control.

The heads of top U.S. intelligence agencies warned this month about the national security threat posed by China-owned TikTok, pointing to the Chinese government’s influence over the app’s algorithm and its potential access to the app’s data and software.

Biden officials emphasize a national security review of the app is underway. The National Security Council said last summer that a separate review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States “is ongoing.”

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based company that has links to the Chinese government. ByteDance and TikTok have repeatedly claimed they have not and would not turn over TikTok user data to the Chinese government.

ByteDance and TikTok spent a significant amount of money on lobbying, and have put together a large lobbying team made up of one-time lawmakers and former congressional staffers from both parties to try to shield the company. TikTok’s lobbying has targeted the Biden White House.