China accuses US of 'political suppression' over TikTok, WeChat ban

Beijing on Friday accused the United States of "suppression" after President Donald Trump ordered sweeping restrictions against Chinese social media giants TikTok and WeChat.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing that the US move came at the expense of American users and companies.

Trump's executive orders, which take effect in 45 days, bar anyone under US jurisdiction from doing business with the owners of TikTok or WeChat.

They come as the world's two biggest economies clash over a host of issues from the coronavirus to Hong Kong and Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

Trump's orders say the social media giants are a threat to US "national security, foreign policy, and economy", as the president seeks to curb China's power in global technology.

Wang said "the US frequently abuses its national power and unjustifiably suppresses non-US companies".

"At the expense of the rights and interests of US users and companies, the US... is carrying out arbitrary political manipulation and suppression," he added.