China officials internally discuss option of TikTok sale to Musk
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. SINGAPORE—Chinese officials, facing a looming U.S. TikTok ban, have internally discussed options including the possibility of allowing a trusted non-Chinese party such as Elon Musk to invest in or take control of TikTok’s U.S.
operations, people familiar with the discussions said. China has protested a U.S. law that would ban TikTok in the U.S.
unless its Beijing-based parent, ByteDance, divests itself of the operation. The Supreme Court last week seemed inclined to let the law stand. It goes into effect on Sunday unless the court issues a stay.
It couldn’t be determined whether the Chinese officials had presented the Musk idea to top leadership. The law is one of many issues straining U.S.-China relations ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Top leadership in Beijing views openness on TikTok as one possible card to play, with confrontations expected over tariffs and other issues, the people said. Trump has said he wants to find a way to let TikTok remain in the U.S. In discussions to date, officials concluded that it was best to let the ban take effect and keep TikTok under ByteDance’s ownership so that negotiations could continue after Trump takes over, the people said.
In preparing the tool kit for possible options after Trump’s inauguration, officials have examined possible openness to a deal with Musk, one of Trump’s closest allies, the people said. Tesla, the electric-vehicle maker headed by Musk, has a factory in Shanghai, and China is one of its biggest markets. Musk has frequently met top Chinese officials and expressed favorable views about the country and its leadership.
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