TikTok has called “pure fiction” a report that China is considering allowing the sale of the social media company's US operations to Elon Musk.
The firm's comments came in response to a Bloomberg report that Chinese officials were considering an option to sell its American business to the world's richest man if the US Supreme Court upheld the ban on the app.
Supreme Court justices are expected to rule on a law that sets a January 19 deadline for TikTok to either sell its US operations or face a ban in the country.
TikTok has repeatedly said it will not sell its US operations.
“We can't be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson told BBC News.
Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that one possible scenario being considered by Chinese officials is for Musk's X social media platform to take control of TikTok's US operations.
X did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.
Musk is a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trumpwho is due to return to the White House on January 20.
last month, Trump appealed to the Supreme Court delay its decision until he takes office to allow him to seek a “political solution”.
His lawyer filed a legal memo in court saying Trump “opposes the TikTok ban” and “seeks the opportunity to resolve the issues through political means once he takes office.”
It came a week after Trump met with TikTok CEO Shaw Zee Choo at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
On Monday, two Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Ro Hanna, also called on Congress and President Joe Biden to extend the Jan. 19 deadline.
During a hearing in the Supreme Court last week, judges appeared willing to obey the law and stick to the deadline.
During nearly three hours of arguments, the nine justices returned again and again to the national security concerns that led to the law.
The Biden administration has argued that without a sale, TikTok could be used by China as a tool for espionage and political manipulation.
The company has repeatedly denied any influence from the Chinese Communist Party and has said the US ban violates its users' First Amendment freedom of speech.