TikTok. Photo: VCG

Zhang Yiming, CEO of ByteDance, vowed to find resolutions to issues it faces globally, particularly in the US and India, a move which will try to fit the interests of multiple parties amid the ongoing China-US tech war.

Zhang's statement came after Kevin Mayer resigned as  CEO on Thursday, three months after he joined the video sharing app. Vanessa Pappas, TikTok's current general manager, was appointed as the interim chief executive.

"In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for," wrote Mayer, according to a report in The New York Times. 

In an internal letter, Zhang said he fully respected the decision of Mayer against the backdrop of the political turmoil in the US and thanked Mayer for his efforts.

"I understand that the resulting outcome that we land upon due to the political circumstances we are operating within could have significant impact on his job in any scenario, but particularly given his global role while he's based in the US," Zhang said. "I thank Kevin for his efforts towards a resolution to the issues and wish him well." 

Zhang also assured employees that ByteDace is "moving quickly to find resolutions to the issues it faces globally, particularly in the US and India."

"I cannot get into details at this point, but I can assure you that we are developing solutions that will be in the interests of the users, software developers, partners, and employees," Zhang said.

The news came just days after TikTok's decision to file a lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration's attempts to ban the video-sharing app in the US. The US has recently cracked down on Chinese social media and technology during an escalating tech war.

On August 6, Trump issued an executive order banning any US transactions with ByteDance, set to take effect in 45 days. On August 14, Trump signed another executive order, requiring ByteDance to divest its interests in the US within 90 days.

Global Times