US House Votes to Ban TikTok if it Doesn’t Sever Ties with China

The United States Congress was yet to vote on major bills concerning Ukraine and Israel. These bills have been the result of lengthy and contentious negotiations, as well as pressure from US allies and repeated requests for assistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The funding for Ukraine has been a contentious issue at the heart of partisan squabbling. At the behest of President Joe Biden, a portion of the funding would be allocated to counter China by investing in submarine infrastructure and competing with Beijing on projects in developing countries.

Additionally, a provision in the bill would require TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban in the United States. The White House expressed strong support for the legislation, which includes $61 billion in economic assistance and weapons for Ukraine.

This has been a point of contention, with Republicans, influenced by former President Donald Trump, showing reluctance to provide funding for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The House could potentially vote on the bill for Ukraine as early as Tuesday, according to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

Additionally, a total of $13 billion in military assistance has been allocated for Israel, with a significant portion being directed towards reinforcing Israel’s Iron Dome air defenses. It is anticipated that US allies will welcome the passage of these bills in the House, but there is speculation that the Republican House speaker could face repercussions for supporting the bills, as a few far-right isolationist Republican lawmakers have indicated they may seek to oust him.