WASHINGTON: TikTok’s Singaporean CEO Chew Shou Zi was on Wednesday (Jan 31) asked repeatedly about his ties with China, in his first appearance before US lawmakers since March last year.
Chew was among the leaders of the biggest social media companies grilled by US senators – the latest effort by lawmakers to address the concerns of parents and mental health experts that social media companies put profits over guardrails that would ensure their platforms do not harm children.
Chew testified along with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Discord CEO Jason Citron.
“I’M SINGAPOREAN”
US Senator Tom Cotton on Wednesday repeatedly asked Chew about his ties with China.
“As you often say, that you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?” he asked Chew who responded with “Singapore”.
Cotton then asked if the TikTok CEO ever applied for Chinese citizenship.
“Senator, I served my nation in Singapore. No, I did not,” he said.
Chew was further asked if he had ever belonged to the Chinese Communist Party, to which he replied: “Senator, I’m Singaporean. No.”
Cotton then asked Chew if he had “ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party”, to which Chew again responded “no”, adding that he is Singaporean.
