The U.S. Supreme Court decision came just before the Biden administration’s announcement regarding the future of the popular social media app, TikTok. The Court upheld a bipartisan law that potentially paves the way for TikTok to be banned in the United States after January 19 unless its Chinese-owned parent company opts to sell the app. Despite this ruling, the Biden administration has indicated it does not intend to take immediate action to shut down TikTok, as reported by ABC News. Instead, the responsibility of addressing this issue may fall to the incoming Trump administration.
Former President Trump, who had previously attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, has now expressed a desire to preserve the platform. In December, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club, with reports suggesting that Chew is expected to attend Trump’s upcoming inauguration. Additionally, Trump extended an invitation to China’s President Xi to attend the inauguration ceremony in Washington, though it was considered improbable that Xi would personally attend. However, it was confirmed that Vice President Han Zheng, serving as Xi’s special representative, will be present at the event, as announced by a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized their readiness to collaborate with the incoming U.S. administration to enhance dialogue, address differences constructively, promote beneficial cooperation, work towards a stable bilateral relationship, and establish a sustainable foundation for China-U.S. interactions. The spokesperson underscored the importance of finding a pathway for the two nations to engage in a positive and mutually respectful manner.
In a separate development, it was revealed that Trump engaged in a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the days leading up to the presidential inauguration. The details of their discussion have not been fully disclosed, but it signals a potential continuation of dialogue between the United States and China under the new administration.
For the latest updates on this evolving situation, please visit abcnews.go.com.
