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>There is precedence of American companies not allowed to operate in China.

Not true. They can operate, they just need to obey the law. Same way other companies need to obey American laws to operate in US, eg enforcing copyright or providing Lawful Interception mechanisms.

Last I checked, it's not so much that Google wasn't allowed to operate, it's that they didn't want to have to follow the rules (and for good reason) ?

Apple (at least) seems to have managed to strike some kind of a deal ?

Trade is mutual. No way in hell it’s mutual right now wrt how social media and other businesses from America operate in China. It’s fair and square to boot TikTok.