TikTok Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to delay the TikTok ban by 75 days "to permit my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok,MKS sports" the Xinhua News Agency reported. TikTok began restoring its services on Sunday (US time) after about 14 hours of shutdown.

The executive order directs the Justice Department to issue letters to companies like Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Oracle that work with TikTok, “stating that there has been no violation of the statute and that there is no liability for any conduct that occurred during the above-specified period,” the Reuters report said. 

TikTok chief executive Chew Shou Zi attended Trump’s inaugural events in Washington, Straits Times reported. 

According to a live update by ABC News, Trump signaled at the White House that he thinks the US should own “half” of the social media app. He said to stay in operation in the US, TikTok would need to relinquish 50 percent of its earnings to the US. The president did not detail how this deal would work, but said it would be a “joint venture,” the report said. 

In response to media questions on TikTok restoring service in the US as well as the proposed deal by Donald Trump that will see the US have 50 percent ownership in a joint venture, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Monday that China hopes the US will earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries.

TikTok has operated in the US for years and been very popular with American users, the spokesperson said, adding that it has played a positive role in boosting US employment and consumption.

Global Times