(The Guardian) Republican senator Tom Cotton used his time on the floor of the Senate hearing to fire off a series of xenophobic questions to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
Echoing a prior line of questioning from Senator Ted Cruz, he asked Chew if he knows “what happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989”, alleging that the China-owned app censors related content. He also asked Chew if he believes Chinese president Xi Jinping is a dictator.
“I’m not going to comment on any world leaders, it’s not appropriate,” Chew said. Cotton responded by questioning if Chew believes he would lose his job if he says anything negative about the Chinese Communist party.
“Are you scared that you’ll be arrested and disappeared the next time you go to mainland China?” he asked.
Cottton pointedly asked Chew “of what nation are you a citizen?” and if he has ever applied for American or Chinese citizenship. The TikTok CEO replied, exasperated, that he is from Singapore.
Echoing a prior line of questioning from Senator Ted Cruz, he asked Chew if he knows “what happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989”, alleging that the China-owned app censors related content. He also asked Chew if he believes Chinese president Xi Jinping is a dictator.
“I’m not going to comment on any world leaders, it’s not appropriate,” Chew said. Cotton responded by questioning if Chew believes he would lose his job if he says anything negative about the Chinese Communist party.
“Are you scared that you’ll be arrested and disappeared the next time you go to mainland China?” he asked.
Cottton pointedly asked Chew “of what nation are you a citizen?” and if he has ever applied for American or Chinese citizenship. The TikTok CEO replied, exasperated, that he is from Singapore.
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