- China’s commerce ministry declared that Australia’s TikTok ban on federally-owned devices is discriminatory.
- The TikTok ban hurts Australian businesses and the public.
- The statement called on Canberra to treat all companies equally and not to single out TikTok.
China has issued a stern warning to Australia, urging the country to treat all companies fairly, including TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing app that has come under scrutiny from the Australian government.
The warning comes after Australia announced plans to impose stricter regulations on foreign investment, particularly in sensitive industries such as telecommunications and national security.
In a statement released on Friday, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, urged Australia to “abide by market principles and treat all companies fairly.”
“Hyping up so-called ‘national security risks’ to discriminate against and restrict normal Chinese investment and cooperation, including TikTok, is not conducive to mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia,” she said.
TikTok has become a flashpoint in the escalating tensions between Australia and China, with the Australian government accusing the app of being a potential national security threat due to its ties to China.
Australia’s move to restrict foreign investment has also drawn criticism from other countries, including the United States, which has expressed concern over the new rules.
This latest warning from China is likely to increase tensions between the two countries, which have been strained in recent years over a range of issues, including human rights, trade, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
It remains to be seen how Australia will respond to China’s warning, but it is clear that the ongoing tensions between the two countries are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.