‘Senator, I’m Singaporean’: Tech CEO Vexed When Tom Cotton Asks If He’s ‘Ever Been a Member of the Chinese Community Party’

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on Wednesday, asking him about his nationality and whether he’s ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Chew, who is Singaporean, was one of several tech CEOs dragged before the Senate Judiciary Committee where several lawmakers played to the cameras in anticipation of their predictable cable news hits later in the day.

TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is based in Beijing, China, but a majority of the company is owned by non-Chinese entities such as the Carlyle Group in the U.S. and SoftBank in Japan. Still, many conservatives view the social media platform as being in thrall to the Chinese Communist Party. Cotton said the company had been sanctioned by the U.S. as a CCP company.

At one point, Cotton questioned Chew about his allegiances:

COTTON: So, you said today as you often say, that you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?

CHEW: Singapore, Senator.

COTTON: Are you a citizen of any other nation?

CHEW: No, Senator.

COTTON: Have you ever applied for Chinese citizenship?

CHEW: Senator, I served my nation in Singapore. No, I did not.

COTTON: Do you have a Singaporean passport?

CHEW: Yes, and I served my military for two and a half years in Singapore.

COTTON: Do you have any other passports from any other nations?

CHEW: No, Senator.

COTTON: Your wife is an American citizen. Your children are American citizens.

CHEW: That’s correct.

COTTON: Have you ever applied for American citizenship?

CHEW: No, not yet.

COTTON: Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?

CHEW: Senator, I’m Singaporean. No.

COTTON: Have you ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party?

CHEW: No, Senator. Again, I’m Singaporean.

Cotton then unsuccessfully attempted to get Chew to offer his opinions about Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Watch above via C-SPAN.