China has a law on the books preventing them from selling the algorithm though no? Most they could do is sell the userbase, existing content, name, etc. And the reason most people like it in the first place of course is because of the superior ability to curate your own wants compared to western apps which push their own thing. Also the lack of censorship as bad as Zuck and Musk-land.

I honestly hope they don't buckle. This is a test case, if they do buckle the US will be encouraged to do this kind of bullying to all kinds of Chinese companies. If they refuse to bow and end up banned at least the US knows this gangster-ism has to go all the way and all they reap is lack of competition not the actual fruits of the company which are simply taken home.