This Mr. Qiu has quite an interesting history.
As the chief executive of ByteDance’s TikTok, Qiu made his first appearance before the US Congress. On Thursday (23 March)
It seeks to ease concerns by US lawmakers who believe the app gives the Chinese government access to US user data.
The laundering comes amid tensions between the United States and with China in almost every dimension
TikTok has become one of the characters of the confrontation of superpowers.
And this young Singaporean executive must stand in the middle of this terrible storm.
Mr. Chew is an alumnus of Singapore’s prestigious Hwa Chong International School.
He received a BA in Economics from University College London in 2006.
Started working after college at Goldman Sachs for two years as an investment banker.
Then went on to attend Harvard Business School’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
and met a woman who later became his wife, Vivian Kao, who had two children together
Chew later became interested in technology as an intern at a startup company called Facebook.
He then joined venture capital firms and led investments in Chinese tech giants such as JD.com, Alibaba, Xiaomi and later ByteDance.
In 2015, Qiu joined Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi as CFO.
Years later it helped Xiaomi design one of its first publicly offered technologies.
That was very hilarious because Xiaomi’s IPO at that time had the largest value in the history of China.
When ByteDance offered him the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) seat in March 2021, he agreed almost instantly.
Then he was quickly promoted.
Because just two months later He was appointed CEO of TikTok.
The founder, Zhang Yiming, praised “In-depth knowledge of the company and industry” of this young Singaporean
later that same year Chew also stepped down from his role at ByteDance to focus on the TikTok leadership as its sole CEO.
It replaces Kevin Mayer, an American executive and former Disney executive who decided to step down under pressure from US lawmakers. It’s about security concerns.
Some Western analysts believe that Mr. Qiu was selected for this position to cross the Western and Chinese business worlds.
Being a Singaporean may help reduce the risk of political pressure from both China and the United States.
as if to say Giving Mr. Chew to wear this position is a signal that TikTok wants to avoid being used as a tool for the confrontation between the two giants.
But some people think The fact that Mr. Qiu was offered this position was not because of his nationality.
Rather, it was because he was skilled in the marketing and strategy of real tech companies.
but cannot deny that What Qiu was facing reflected the current reality. where transnational private sector actors are increasingly drawn to international security issues and immersed in conflict or struggle for influence between superpowers
Mr. Qiu made his debut in this position enthusiastically. Giving interviews to international media and participating in discussions at various forums openly about the role of technology and TikTok
amid an intensifying atmosphere in the United States and other countries In Europe where the use of the app is banned on government devices.
Late last year, ByteDance admitted that some employees had accessed the TikTok user data of two U.S. journalists. “inappropriately”
It is part of efforts to investigate leaks of company information.
before being questioned by the House Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives. Chew said that TikTok, which has more than 150 million US users, “never and will never share US user data. to the Chinese government.”
and confirm that the government or any government agency China does not own or control the activities of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance.
“I would like to make it clear that ByteDance does not represent China or any other country.” he insisted.
But those who did not believe confirmed that Under China’s national security law, TikTok and ByteDance, like other Chinese companies, that have to hand over the information to the Chinese government
and even if it does not directly violate national security laws But there are also concerns from some that sensitive information is transmitted by other secret means.
Being a Singaporean of Mr. Chew will help make Are US MPs light on TikTok?
Listening to the heated exchanges in the US House the other day, the answer was that it had no effect at all.
Expectations that Mr. Qiu will be a bridge between China and the United States. that is only hope
Because it really took Although Mr Qiu repeated to US lawmakers “I’m Singaporean” to signal that he was not a Chinese man who would fall under Beijing’s orders on everything. But how many American politicians know the difference between Chinese and Singaporean faces?
when the sword is about to cut US MPs did not hold back either.
The TikTok war will continue to heat up.
Because the point is not only on this app.
But it lies in the lingering emotions of American politicians towards China in the bigger picture that cannot be easily erased.
It’s not as easy as ordering to delete. TikTok from mobile, of course!