China won't allow a TikTok 'smash and grab' by US, state media warns

ByteDance became the world's largest startup thanks to the success abroad of TikTok, which American lawmakers accuse of posing a threat to national security by vacuuming up data

China’s government won’t accept an acquisition of TikTok’s US operations by Microsoft Corp and may take action against Washington if a sale is forced, the Beijing-backed China Daily said in its Tuesday editorial.

It’s Beijing’s strongest defense so far of ByteDance Ltd and its viral video phenom, which President Donald Trump threatened to ban unless a deal is struck by September 15 to sell TikTok’s US business to Microsoft or another US entity. That process is tantamount to officially sanctioned theft, the Communist Party mouthpiece wrote, echoing prominent Beijing-backed media like the Global Times.