Singaporeans slam US senator’s grilling of TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi’s nationality, links to China: ‘pure ignorance’

Video clips of a United States senator’s persistent grilling of TikTok’s Singaporean boss on his nationality and links to China’s Communist Party have sparked anger from online users in the island republic, with many criticising the politician’s racism and lack of understanding of Singapore.

Analysts who spoke to This Week in Asia said the exchange was likely to heighten the antipathy of Singaporeans towards US policy-makers, since such “anti-Chinese” rhetoric would rile up citizens in the multiracial city state with an ethnic Chinese majority.

TikTok’s CEO Chew Shou Zi, 41, on Wednesday appeared alongside the chief executives of tech firms Discord, Meta, Snap and X to testify before American lawmakers over concerns about the harmful effects of social media on children.

However, Singaporeans following Wednesday’s hearing online were most incensed by the way Chew was questioned about his nationality and affiliations with the Chinese government.

“You said today, as you often say, that you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?” asked Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

Despite Chew stating he was Singaporean, Cotton continued to press him. “Are you a citizen of any other nation?” he asked, and followed up with whether Chew had ever applied for Chinese citizenship and if he held a Singaporean passport.

Chew responded no to both questions, adding that he had fulfilled his national service to his home country by serving in the Singaporean military for 2½ years, which is a requirement for all Singaporean men.

Cotton also asked if Chew was a member of China’s Communist Party, to which a visibly frustrated Chew responded: “Senator, I’m Singaporean, no.”

The Singapore government does not allow citizens to hold dual