China, which has previously criticized the United States’ attempts to force the sale of TikTok, now appears to be open to negotiations regarding the platform’s ownership. Specifically, Beijing is considering allowing ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to relinquish control of its US operations. This shift in position has raised speculation that China sees TikTok as a potential bargaining chip to secure concessions on other more pressing issues.
Questions, however, remain about what a deal on TikTok would entail and who would own and control the platform’s algorithm, which has been a key factor in its popularity in the US. Under Chinese export controls, the transfer of sensitive technologies, such as TikTok’s algorithm, requires government approval. If China is willing to transfer control of the algorithm, it would likely expect significant concessions from the US in areas such as trade and Taiwan.
The US, for its part, appears eager to reach an agreement on TikTok, particularly as President Donald Trump prepares for his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office. Some reports suggest that a deal on TikTok would see the platform’s algorithm licensed to a new joint venture in the US, with Oracle overseeing and retraining the algorithm using US data. This development comes amid accusations that TikTok has promoted pro-Palestinian content.
Despite the prospect of resolving the standoff over TikTok, there are differing accounts of where things stand. The White House has indicated that China is on board with a deal that would see TikTok’s algorithm licensed out, while China has only confirmed that there is a “basic framework consensus” on TikTok. Further negotiations appear likely, and it remains to be seen what specifics would be included in any deal.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/9/23/for-china-tiktok-becomes-a-useful-bargaining-chip-amid-tensions-with-us?traffic_source=rss
