US House Votes to Ban TikTok if it Fails to Sever Ties with China

Voting on major bills regarding Ukraine and Israel was pending, after months of acrimonious negotiations, pressure from US allies, and repeated pleas for assistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The bills have been at the heart of partisan squabbling, with funding for Ukraine being a contentious issue. At the request of President Joe Biden, approximately $8 billion would be allocated to counter China through investment in submarine infrastructure and boosting competition with Beijing on projects in developing countries.

Another provision would force TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban in the United States. Western officials have expressed concerns over TikTok’s popularity with young people, alleging its subservience to Beijing and spread of propaganda, claims denied by the company. The White House issued a statement on Friday strongly supporting the legislation.

The United States has been the primary military supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, but approval for large-scale funding has been held up due to political bickering. However, after months of hesitation, House Speaker Johnson finally threw his support behind a $61 billion package for Ukraine, including economic assistance and weapons. The bill also allows for Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and use the funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The legislation also includes allocating over $13 billion in military assistance to Israel for its conflict against Hamas in Gaza, primarily to reinforce Israel’s Iron Dome air defenses. Additionally, more than $9 billion will be earmarked to address humanitarian needs in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world. The passage of these bills in the House is expected to be welcomed by US allies, but it may come at a cost to the Republican House speaker as a few far-right isolationist Republican lawmakers have warned that they may oust Johnson for supporting the bills.