TikTok is eyeing a fast-approaching US ban on January 19. The fate of the social media platform is as ambiguous as the US-China relationship.

Ambassador Nick Burns believes TikTok and other Chinese-founded social media apps are a strategy to undermine America from within, as the relationship between the two countries is “very competitive, very challenging, very contentious,” he said. on FOX Business.

“I think it’s a strategy. You know, China is a very important world power. They want to overtake the United States in power. They want to diminish us,” he said.

Burns also pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party runs a massive propaganda machine that censors incoming information about freedoms in the United States and distorts our issues, making the US look bad.

TIKTOK CEO TO ATTEND INAUGURATION WITH FRONT ROW SEAT AT TRUMP’S INVITATION

General view of TikTok headquarters on October 13, 2020 in Culver City, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images)

As for TikTok, Burns explained that it’s a battle of ideas and any Chinese company ultimately answers to the government of China. A White House source familiar with the situation told FOX Business that President Biden supported the bipartisan bill that is now a law banning enforcement, but since Jan. 19 falls on a Sunday, it depends of the Trump administration to continue with the ban. , which the Supreme Court confirmed on Friday. The opening day is January 20.

On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump gave details of a recent call with China’s president.

“I just spoke with President Xi Jinping of China. The call was very good for both China and the United States. I have my expectation to solve many problems together and start immediately. We talked about the balance of the trade, fentanyl, TikTok and many other issues, President Xi and I will do our best to make the world more peaceful and safer.”

TRUMP, THE XI OF CHINA SPEAKS IN CONVOCATION BEFORE THE INAUGURATION

Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the joint press conference of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian, north China’s Shaanxi Province, May 19, 2023. (Photo by FLORENCE LO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Burns stressed that the US must be tough on China because Communist Party leaders only understand force.

“They have to pay the price. I mean, I agree with you. Just so you know, I’ve spent the last few years debating, lobbying, arguing with Chinese leaders and what they really respond to our actions,” he said. He believes the next administration needs to maintain the lobbying campaign against China. Burns believes in tariffs on Chinese goods and sanctions until the country establishes a fairer trading environment and treats American companies more fairly.

THE AI RACE FROM CHINA TO THE US AND CHINA IS FASTING

In Wednesday’s testimony for the Senate nomination of Trump’s secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, many questions focused on China. Rubio told senators, “The PRC is the most powerful and dangerous near-pure adversary this nation has ever faced.” He added that there is a dangerous imbalance in the US-China relationship.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., stops to speak with reporters as he arrives at the Capitol from the Senate subway on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Burns advises the United States to lean on its allies in Asia, adding, “We’ve never faced a competitor in American history as strong as China. And so we have to have a whole government effort to compete. One of the big advantages we have is that China has no allies in the world. We have treaty allies, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.”

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The US is not losing to China yet, but we have to be careful.

“In fact, if I were to measure the power of the United States against China, we are stronger,” he offered.

To continue this way, he says it will take a whole-of-government approach.

Burns resigned Friday after first walking through the doors of the State Department 45 years ago.