Issues with TikTok's ownership were reportedly discussed during a rare call meeting with US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid the push to ban the app in the Western country, according to the White House.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that Biden "reiterated" that calls to bar the app in the US "was not about a ban of the application, but rather our interest in divestiture."
(Photo : Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Kirby, however, did not disclose Xi's response to the discussion. The talks on the controversial app were first reported by Reuters.
TikTok is currently owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, the company targeted for a nationwide ban with the proposed Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
US House Passes TikTok Ban Bill Amid China's Protest
The bill has already passed the US House of Representatives and is on its way to a Senate hearing.
Biden, who is currently running re-election campaigns on the video-sharing platform, previously remarked to sign the legislation once it passed Congress.
China has earlier blasted Congress' approval of the bill, accusing the country of "unfairly suppressing foreign companies."
The US currently occupies only 10% of TikTok's total users and revenues with most of its market coming from Asia.
Also Read: China Accuses Congress of 'Unfairly Suppressing Foreign Companies' with TikTok Ban Bill
Biden, Xi Deliberates Around Advanced US Tech Trade Restrictions
Aside from issues on TikTok, the two also reportedly discussed concerns on the ongoing transaction of advanced technologies between the US and China.
According to Kirby, Biden raised worries about "advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment."
China has been reported several times of still acquiring NVIDIA AI chips despite the US sanction on the technology.
In response, insider reports indicate that the White House has been urging allied nations to impose further restrictions to stop China from acquiring its advanced AI chips.
They reportedly agreed to "maintain open channels of communication and responsibility" on economic roles. Secretary of State Anthony Blinked is noted to go to China to further the discussions.
The phone call was the first meeting the two presidents made since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last November.
Related Article: TikTok Ban and the US Government: A Case of Restrictions, State Control, and Espionage Fears
