Positive signs emerge for Sino-US relations

The course of China-US relations will be watched closely now that US President Donald Trump is back in the White House, with the past week showing some grounds for optimism.

One issue that has drawn global attention is Trump's executive order to delay Congress' ban on TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China's Byte-Dance.

In an executive order posted on the White House website on Monday, Trump said he had instructed the attorney general not to take any action to enforce the ban effective from Jan 19 for 75 days so that the new administration has ample time "to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans".

US Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, and US Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, went a step further on Monday. They introduced the bipartisan, bicameral "Repeal the TikTok Ban Act".

The bill would annul the law requiring the sale of TikTok "as well as ensure that any existing designation has no force or effect".

In a news release on his Senate website, Paul wrote: "They tell you this is about China. About security. About safety. That's a lie. This is about control. About fear. About silencing you."

He said that "some politicians think the First Amendment has fine print. It doesn't. The right to free speech doesn't come with exceptions. Not for apps. Not for ideas. Not for politicians who think they know better than you. They don't ban speech to protect you. They ban speech to control you", Paul said. "That's why today, I'm introducing a bipartisan, bicameral bill to repeal the TikTok ban."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was looking to visit China in his first 100 days back in office.

China Daily spoke with some US citizens who were in Washington for the inauguration to gauge their outlook on the bilateral relationship.

Mark Rogers of Sacramento, California, said the relationship is "all about respect and friendship".

"I think … incredibly positive," he said of his outlook on relations. "And I think we'll move forward."

Anna Benson from Utah expressed optimism, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a good relationship with China. She highlighted the potential for unity and collaboration, saying, "If we (could) be together, united, we can be stronger. … The power will benefit the people. That's what we want, a power that can benefit the people, the people in China, and the people in the United States."

"He (Trump) has a very good relationship with China, and we want him to keep it up," Benson said.

Claire Toalson, 23, from Texas, expressed excitement about the future of the relationship. "I'm confident that he (Trump) can get a good deal struck up and kind of get a healthy relationship going between the two," she said.

Contact the writers at hengweili@chinadailyusa.com.