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I'm not really a fan of direct open censorship of the US like this so I wouldn't personally support that over a ban either. My main point is just the US can simply act under the principle of trade reciprocity by saying if you don't allow our corporations (including news) operate within your country without undue interference, your corporations don't get to operate in ours. "Undue interference" would be defined by the US (or jointly by the US and China through some negotiation), but it wouldn't be just China that decides since well this is US legislation we're talking about that.

Nothing there would go against the principles of free trade or even free speech really. China would be free to open up if they want to engage in those activities. But if China didn't want that, then it wouldn't mean that the US is somehow acting rashly or wrong by reciprocating economically.




> the US can simply act under the principle of trade reciprocity by saying

This is basically a ban, because there is no world that China agrees to let their firewall down.

Or it's effectively nothing if China argues "they just have to follow our rules".

And then you have to implement the actual ban, which will lead to this exact situation all over again.


> This is basically a ban, because there is no world that China agrees to let their firewall down.

Whether it's a ban or not is up to China. If they don't want to change policy that's their prerogative.

> And then you have to implement the actual ban, which will lead to this exact situation all over again.

So? Sounds like in that situation it _should_ be banned.


As far as I'm seeing here you're describing the same end result. I'm not going to disagree with you because at the end of the day I only care about that end result.

However I also think this plan will prove way more unwieldy and easy to abuse than a more direct and honest ban that makes it clear China has none of our trust and is recognized as a proper hostile state.


I'm not sure why you're being so argumentative. You and I are largely saying the same thing. I don't think it would be unreasonable for the US to ban the certain Chinese companies (e.g. Tiktok) _until_ China changes its laws and trade practices.


It may be effectively a ban, but it's not free speech violations, so it's morally okay.


Restriction of a platform like TikTok isn't a free speech violation at all. They're a company, firstly, and an arm of a foreign government.

Free speech is a right of citizens and individuals. Denying China's right to control what Americans say increases freedom of speech.




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