TikTok is being pushed into a corner by the U.S. government! The U.S. president now has the power to pass an order to force any Chinese app to change hands to U.S. capital. This is not only limited to TikTok, but even Pinduoduo's TEMU and Shein are also in jeopardy. The U.S. Senate has done whatever it takes to tie the bill banning TikTok to the Ukraine aid bill to a vote — is it passed, or is it vetoed outright?
There are voices in the United States that if TikTok is banned in the United States, then moving the company to Canada is also an option, but this is not feasible in the long run. Because in this way, TikTok will face a new round of bans, and its survival in Canada will also become precarious. The other option is to bow to U.S. capital and cede control, which is similar to TSMC and Samsung's strategy, which is to reassure U.S. capital through equity design, while retaining some decision-making power.
As far as legal challenges are concerned, although TikTok can apply for judicial review to the U.S. Supreme Court before the bill goes into effect to challenge its legitimacy, this approach has little chance of winning in the current political environment. The separation of powers in the United States will not stop this process, because anti-China is equivalent to patriotism, and the justices will not offend a wide range of political forces because of an app. This shows that the so-called "freedom of speech" in the United States is actually the freedom after being censored and controlled.
In this case, TikTok is not only facing a loss of brand and market, but also a comprehensive challenge to the internationalization of Chinese enterprises. Whether it's a fight to the end or some form of compromise, TikTok's choice will have a profound impact on the global technology and media landscape. By using the law as a weapon, the United States has demonstrated its extremely defensive attitude towards foreign competitors. Now, we can only wait for TikTok's next move, and we should fully support it.