We ended 2025 by reporting on news that plans for the sale of TikTok’s US operations had been finalised. So what better way to start 2026 than by reporting on noises from the Chinese authorities suggesting that the deal may not be as final as had been suggested?
State-controlled outlet China Daily is the source for the latest development, with its report claiming that the Chinese government “hopes that relevant parties can reach a solution regarding TikTok that complies with Chinese laws and regulations and achieves a balance of interests”.
Based on a press conference from government spokesperson He Yongqian, the report noted that they also “urged the US to provide a fair, open, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for the continuous and stable operation of Chinese enterprises in the United States”.
Careful words, but they do hint at bumps ahead for the deal, which according to an internal memo from TikTok CEO Shou Chew would see three companies – US firms Oracle and Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi state-owned investment fund MGX – own 45% of a new TikTok US joint venture.
The deal is expected to close on 22 January, so the remarks by the Chinese government spokesperson may simply reflect some last-minute brinksmanship to secure some additional promises from the US administration.
They’re certainly a reminder, though, that even if TikTok and its current parent company ByteDance have approved a US-brokered agreement, the Chinese authorities will still have a major say on when and how (or even if) the sale proceeds.
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