President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signaled progress on a potential TikTok agreement following a recent phone call, with the two leaders planning to meet in South Korea within six weeks. Their discussions will focus on trade, illicit drugs, and the conflict in Ukraine.
During the call, the first in three months, tensions between the two nations seemed to ease. While a formal agreement on TikTok wasn’t immediately finalized, Trump suggested that a deal was “well on its way” and that Xi had “approved” it. This potential agreement comes as Congress had mandated that TikTok’s U.S. operations be shut down by January 2025 if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, did not sell them.
The Chinese government’s statement on the call did not confirm a formal deal on TikTok, but it did express its respect for the company’s wishes and urged non-discriminatory treatment. ByteDance also issued a statement thanking both presidents and indicating its commitment to finding a solution that complies with Chinese law.
Despite the apparent progress, a number of key questions remain about the deal, including the exact ownership structure, China’s level of control over the app’s algorithm, and whether Congress will approve the arrangement. Some lawmakers remain concerned that Beijing could use the app for espionage or to influence American citizens.
Beyond TikTok, Trump noted positive movement on trade and the fentanyl crisis. He also stated his belief that Xi would like to see the Russia-Ukraine war end. This comes amid ongoing trade tensions, with both countries imposing a series of tariffs since Trump took office, despite a recent pause in the “tit-for-tat” tariff war.
The conversation between the two leaders also took place as other geopolitical issues, such as tensions over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, continue to escalate, though neither country’s statements mentioned them.
(Information from Reuters)
