After a US senator grilled the Singaporean CEO of TikTok about his nationality and suggested he was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, social media users and Singaporeans have been complaining about ignorant and even racist views of the country.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew and executives of other technology firms such as Meta, X, and Snap last week before US lawmakers on online harm to children from social media.
A viral snippet from the hearing shows Chew being repeatedly questioned about his nationality and possible affiliations to the Chinese Communist Party by senator Tom Cotton.
“You said today, as you often say, that you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?” Cotton asked.
Chew affirmed that he is Singaporean -- which does not allow its citizens to hold dual citizenship -- but Cotton pressed on, asking if Chew was a citizen of any other nation, and if he had ever applied for Chinese citizenship. China also does not permit dual nationality, and rarely accepts applications for citizenship.
When Chew responded no to both questions, Cotton asked if he had ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party or had had any affiliation to it.
“No Senator, again, I’m Singaporean,” Chew responded, visibly perplexed because the party requires members to be Chinese citizens.
Video clips of US Senator Tom Cotton’s persistent grilling of TikTok’s Singaporean CEO Chew Shou Zi have sparked anger online. pic.twitter.com/RYxpJ7sA8Y— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) February 2, 2024
An Instagram reel of the exchange uploaded by Singapore's The Straits Times drew about 2,000 comments, most criticising Cotton for his line of questioning.
“Senator, do you know where Singapore is?” a user asked. Another said that “just because he looks Chinese, doesn’t mean he’s Chinese.”
On X, a user wrote, "American public school education: all brown people are Mexicans, all Asians are Chinese. So embarrassing." Another added, "This is embarrassing for the US government."
TikTok, which is operated by the Chinese firm ByteDance, has over 150 million users in the US and the country's lawmakers have regarded TikTok with considerable suspicion over whether its data can be accessed by the Chinese government and whether the app can be used to expand China’s influence.
(With inputs from AP)
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