China: US spreading disinformation and suppressing TikTok

China has accused the United States of spreading disinformation and suppressing TikTok following reports Washington is calling on its Chinese owners to sell their stakes in the popular video-sharing app.

The US has yet to present evidence that TikTok threatens its national security and was using the excuse of data security to abuse its power to suppress foreign companies, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Thursday (Mar 16).

"The US should stop spreading disinformation about data security, stop suppressing the relevant company, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign businesses to invest and operate in the US," Wang said.

"Data security issues should not be used as a tool for some countries to overstretch the concept of national security, abuse state power, and unjustifiably suppress other countries' enterprises."