China allows TikTok sale negotiations amid US divestiture law

China's Foreign Ministry has shifted its stance regarding TikTok, stating that private companies like ByteDance can independently decide on the sale or merger of their assets, which marks a departure from its previous opposition to a foreign sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations. This change comes in light of U.S. laws mandating that ByteDance divest from TikTok to avoid a ban, with the U.S. Supreme Court recently upholding this divest-or-ban law aimed at protecting national security. In a related development, former President Donald Trump temporarily restored TikTok's services after a brief shutdown, allowing 75 days for a deal to be reached that would protect U.S. interests while preserving the app for its 170 million users. However, the situation remains complex as stakeholders continue to navigate the geopolitical landscape. As the U.S. government pushes for divestiture, China's response has framed the U.S. actions as a “ban-or-sale” order under the guise of national security. The interplay of corporate autonomy and governmental pressure highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding technology and national security.