US Approves Bills Supporting TikTok Ban

News Desk

Washington: The US House of Representatives has approved a long-delayed $95 billion foreign aid package covering Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, in a major foreign policy move that also puts Chinese-owned TikTok under renewed pressure in the United States.

The package, passed through four separate bills, includes around $61 billion in military and economic assistance for Ukraine, providing a major boost to Kyiv after months of uncertainty over additional US support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the legislation, saying the assistance would help save lives and strengthen his country’s ability to confront Russia.

The legislation also allocates around $13 billion in military assistance to Israel, primarily to strengthen its air-defence capabilities, while more than $9 billion has been earmarked for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and other crisis-hit regions.

The package further includes billions of dollars aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s defences and countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Around $8 billion would support efforts including submarine infrastructure and competition with Beijing in developing countries.

A separate provision targets TikTok, requiring its Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest the platform or face a nationwide ban in the US. TikTok, which has around 170 million American users, strongly opposed the measure, arguing that it would threaten free speech and harm millions of businesses.

The House vote also highlighted deep divisions within the Republican Party. Speaker Mike Johnson backed the Ukraine aid after months of hesitation, despite threats from some far-right Republicans to seek his removal.

Johnson defended his decision, saying he would rather provide Ukraine with ammunition than risk sending American troops into the conflict.

The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the Ukraine funding, arguing that it would further damage Ukraine while benefiting the United States.

The Ukraine bill also gives President Joe Biden authority to confiscate and sell certain Russian assets, with the proceeds potentially used to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Biden welcomed the House vote, describing the legislation as critical support for US allies and humanitarian assistance for people affected by conflicts around the world.

The package now moves to the US Senate, where lawmakers are expected to consider the legislation on Tuesday. If approved, it will be sent to President Biden for his signature.

The vote comes after nearly 18 months without a major US funding package for Ukraine and amid growing political debate over Washington’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war ahead of the November presidential election.