Tech tycoon Elon Musk and China would grow even more powerful if the owner of X bought the Chinese social media platform TikTok, an expert has said.

       Rumours have swirled in recent days after reports emerged that the world’s richest man was eyeing a purchase of the Chinese-owned brand.

       A report by Bloomberg revealed that Chinese officials have been weighing the option that could see its business in America sold off to Musk, although TikTok has blasted the report as “pure fiction”.

       Other reports suggest Musk could instead be used as a broker in a deal to sell the US patent arm of the firm - ByteDance - as Washington braces to ban the app in days unless it is sold.

       Irina Tsukerman, president of political risk firm Scarab Rising, believes that Beijing sees Musk as a “friendly face” no matter what role he plays.

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       Commenting on the reports, she told Express.co.uk: “The fact that China is the one proposing that Musk could be a potential buyer for TikTok indicates that the CCP views Musk as a friendly face that they can do business with - or compromised sufficiently that the future of TikTok as China envisions it is safe in their hands.”

       And Musk, already weidling vast power with his wealth, control over X and imminent position in Donald Trump’s government, could grow even more powerful if he did buy the company.

       Tsukerman said: “Certainly the purchase of a tool of influence that over 150 million Americans are using will consolidate an unprecedented level of communications, advertising, and social power in Musk's hands.

       “But it would also extend China's influence even further, precisely because Musk's popularity and role in the US government would shield TikTok from scrutiny and make it even less likely that Congress or the White House would take measures to moderate its content or role in any way.”

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       Currently, the app is set for a shutdown as early as this Sunday ahead of the ban.

       But if Musk swoops in, he could take the platform to another level, Tsukerman said.

       She added: “What will happen to TikTok in that case is easily discernible from the example of Twitter/X. Most likely, Musk will go further with TikTok because unlike Twitter, he never criticised the way TikTok is run or its content, much of which is already similar to what Musk is typically boosting on Twitter.”

       Tsukerman also insisted that China “will still likely be running the show indirectly and in the background”.

       But she stressed: “Musk can use TikTok to his advantage to promote himself, his businesses, and his interests and counterparts even more so than via Twitter - and with much less work, and with more safeguards against domestic regulation.”

       Meanwhile, young Americans are reportedly flocking to a Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu as an alternative to TikTok as the government ban looms.

       The proposed ban was issued by Congress with bipartisan support back in April. The ban gave ByteDance, the US arm of the Chinese-owned firm, until 19 January to sell TikTok.

       A Bytdance spokesperson said: "We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction"

       X has been approached for comment.