China urges U.S. to give Tiktok free speech

China urged the United States on Monday to listen to rational voices over the social media app TikTok and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from various countries operating in the U.S.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks in response to TikTok's restoring of service in the U.S. after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive the app's access in the country when he returns to power on Monday.

TikTok has been operating in the U.S. for many years and is popular among American users, Mao told a daily news conference.

It has played a positive role in promoting domestic employment and boosting consumption in the U.S., Mao said, stressing that it has never violated U.S. national security law.

Enterprises should make independent decisions about their operations and deals according to market principles, she said, adding that China's laws and regulations should be observed if any Chinese companies are involved.

TikTok had shut down in the U.S. late Saturday as a deadline loomed for its Chinese owners ByteDance to sell its U.S. subsidiary to non-Chinese buyers.