Trump’s Hint at Deal Making Gives China a Little Breathing Room
New York TimesJAN 12
Trump Downplays TikTok Security Risks
Above: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Jim Lo Scalzo/Contributor/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The focus on TikTok's security risks is overblown when considering that China manufactures most American phones and computers, which pose potentially greater security threats. The platform primarily serves young people watching entertainment content, and its influence has helped connect with younger voters. PRC tech in American markets does need scrutiny, but TikTok isn't a major example of this.
Narrative B
TikTok represents a significant national security vulnerability by collecting vast amounts of sensitive user data, including biometric information, location data, and behavioral patterns. The Chinese government could compel ByteDance to surrender this information at any time — potentially enabling surveillance, blackmail, and corporate espionage against American citizens and institutions.
Pro-China narrative
The US TikTok hysteria has backfired massively, with bad-faith attempts at xenophobia actually resulting in American customers taking refuge in the Chinese alternative app, RedNote. The US must provide a fair and transparent market for competition, and not use threats of banning or tariffs to interfere with the business of TikTok. TikTok has been a boon to the US economy both in terms of enhancing business and employment opportunities — US policy should be reasonable going forward.