TikTok Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump dismissed reports that the White House is in talks with Oracle to obtain TikTok, but acknowledged discussing TikTok with "many people," CNN reported on Sunday.

Trump stated he "never spoke" to Oracle founder Larry Ellison about TikTok but added, "I've spoken to many people about TikTok. And there's great interest in TikTok, according to the report.  

There are "numerous people talking to me — very substantial people — about buying it," and he would be making a decision "probably over the next 30 days," Trump said, according to the CNN report.

"We have a lot of interest in it, and the United States would be a big beneficiary if we do. I'd only do it if the United States benefits," he was quoted as saying in the CNN report. 

TikTok didn't immediately comment when reached by the Global Times on Sunday. Chinese experts reached by the Global Times said on Sunday any deal regarding TikTok's future in the US must comply with Chinese laws.

TikTok certainly wants to continue operating in the US market, which remains a critical area for the company. However, it must strike a balance between market growth and safeguarding its technology, Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Sunday.

On Wednesday, in response to a question regarding reports that Trump has said he would be open to Elon Musk or Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison purchasing social media app TikTok as part of a joint venture with the US government, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning referred it to China's principled position on TikTik without elaboration.   

Regarding TikTok-related issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated China's principled position multiple times, urging the US to provide a fair and just business environment for all companies operating in the US. 

On Tuesday, in response to a question about US President Donald Trump telling ByteDance it must hand over half of TikTok to a US company or Trump will levy 100 percent tariffs on China, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the US should earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries.

TikTok has operated in the US for years and been very popular with American users. It has played a positive role in boosting US employment and consumption, Guo said.

When it comes to actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses, we believe they should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles. If it involves Chinese companies, China's laws and regulations should be observed, Guo noted.

On the same day, in response to another question on whether China believes the sale of TikTok to an American company or to a joint venture could be allowed to include the specific algorithms of TikTok, the transfer of these algorithms, to a joint-venture American company, Guo also stressed that actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles. If it involves Chinese companies, China's laws and regulations should be observed.