China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated potential openness to a TikTok ownership deal with the United States, marking a shift from their previous stance of opposing any forced sale.

During a recent press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to questions about a possible 50% US ownership joint venture proposed by Trump. She emphasized TikTok's positive impact on US employment and consumption, while calling for a fair business environment for international companies.

Key points from China's new position:

• Business operations and acquisitions should be decided independently by companies following market principles
• Any deal involving Chinese companies must comply with Chinese laws and regulations
• China previously blocked TikTok's forced sale but appears more flexible now

Important considerations:

• Chinese regulations still restrict the export of AI technologies, including personalized content recommendation systems
• This restriction would affect TikTok's 'Discover' algorithm in any potential US deal
• The TikTok service was briefly interrupted following a US ban in April 2024 but has since been restored

The situation remains dynamic, with TikTok's founder Zhang Yiming having discussed the matter with Elon Musk following Congressional passage of the TikTok ban legislation.

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