(VOVWORLD) -The US House of Representatives passing a bill forcing TikTok to separate from its parent company ByteDance lets the US stand on the opposite side of the principles of fair competition and international trade rules, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday in Beijing.
 TikTok social media platform icon. Photo: AFP/VNA
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At a press conference on the same day, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said the US should provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign companies to invest and operate in the country. He Yadong added China will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect its legitimate rights and interests.
On Wednesday the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would force TikTok's owner ByteDance to divest from the short-video app, or face a ban. The bill requires ByteDance to take measures to relinquish control of TikTok within 180 days, otherwise this app will be banned from the Apple and Google app stores in the US.
Italy's competition authority on Wednesday fined TikTok 10.9 million USD for failing to control the spread of content that it said threatened the safety of minors and other vulnerable people.