China’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington of ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘double standards’ over its threat to ban video app TikTok in the US, during a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
“The US generalised the concept of national security, issued threats against relevant companies under presumptions of guilt and without any evidence. This violated the principle of market economy and exposed the hypocrisy and typical double standards of the US proclaimed maintenance of fairness and freedom,” said Wang Wenbin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
“It also violates the WTO principles of openness, transparency, and non-discrimination. China firmly opposes this“, he went on to say.
TikTok was placed under formal investigation by the US Committee on Foreign Investments, amid concerns that user data could be shared with the Chinese government.
Wang also announced that China will suspend Hong Kong’s extradition agreement with New Zealand in response to Wellington suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
“New Zealand’s relevant practices will politicise judicial cooperation with Hong Kong and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs,” Wang said. “Which are also considered as serious violations of international law and basic norms of international relations.”
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