Tue Sep 23 02:15:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

China’s stance on the forced sale of TikTok’s US operations appears to be softening, potentially viewing it as a bargaining chip in broader disputes with the United States. While the US claims China is on board with a deal involving licensing TikTok’s algorithm to a US-based joint venture (potentially overseen by Oracle), China’s official statements are more cautious, emphasizing a “basic framework consensus” and adherence to Chinese laws. The key sticking point remains control over TikTok’s algorithm, crucial to the platform’s success. Experts suggest China may seek concessions on trade, technology restrictions, and Taiwan in exchange for handing over algorithm control. The US, particularly under President Trump, might be motivated to expedite a deal to secure a meeting with President Xi Jinping and de-escalate trade tensions. However, analysts caution that any agreement may only involve superficial aspects of the algorithm, and a complete transfer of control remains unlikely. Explicit quid-pro-quo negotiations may be avoided to preserve political optics.

**News Article:**

**China Softens Stance on TikTok Sale, Eyes Broader Concessions from US**

**Washington D.C.** – Beijing appears to be shifting its long-held opposition to the sale of TikTok’s US operations, raising speculation that China sees the popular video-sharing platform as a strategic bargaining chip in ongoing disputes with Washington.

For years, China vehemently condemned US attempts to force the sale of TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance. Now, Chinese officials are signaling a willingness to negotiate terms of divestiture, prompting questions about what China expects in return.

While US officials, including a senior White House source, have expressed confidence that China is aligned with a deal licensing TikTok’s algorithm to a new US-based joint venture, China’s official statements remain more measured. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged a “basic framework consensus,” but emphasizes that any solution must comply with Chinese laws and regulations.

The core point of contention continues to be control over TikTok’s powerful algorithm, which drives the platform’s massive user engagement. Under Chinese export controls, the transfer of such sensitive technology requires government approval.

Analysts suggest China may be seeking concessions from the US on issues like trade tariffs, restrictions on Chinese technology companies, and even Taiwan. Dexter Roberts, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, told Al Jazeera, that China may feel they can get a lot more out of the Trump administration than they originally thought, and they may be contemplating using TikTok as a bargaining lever.

“If the current additional 30 percent US tariffs on China could be lowered, the gain for China would be significant,” said Heiwai Tang, director of the Asia Global Institute in Hong Kong.

The Trump administration, keen to de-escalate trade tensions and secure a meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi, may be willing to expedite a deal. However, experts warn that a complete transfer of the algorithm’s core technology is unlikely.

Chunmeizi Su, a media and communications lecturer at the University of Sydney, believes ByteDance would rather shut down TikTok US altogether than reveal the details of their algorithms, while Charlie Chai, vice head of research at Beijing-based 86Research said that no explicit trade-off or getting anything in return would occur, and that Washington could quietly delay new tariffs or export restrictions later, as “an extension of a good-faith negotiation”.

The proposed deal, according to US sources, could involve Oracle overseeing and retraining the licensed algorithm. Oracle’s cofounder Larry Ellison is known supporter of Israel, and since the start of the 2023 war in Gaza, Ellison has committed cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure support to Israel, which is concerning some Republican lawmakers, who have since 2023, accused the platform of promoting pro-Palestinian content.

The future of TikTok’s US operations remains uncertain, but the shift in China’s stance signals a potential de-escalation in US-China relations, albeit with complex negotiations and potential trade-offs looming.

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