Actions reflect 'insecurity and fear' and are doomed to fail, spokeswoman says

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the Lai Ching-te administration's attempts to undermine cross-Strait exchanges and integration by discrediting mainland-based social media platforms are doomed to fail.

During a regular news conference, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, under Lai's leadership, for continuing to smear mainland-based social media platforms and intimidating Taiwan's youth, despite the role the platforms have played in helping young people on the island access opportunities and pursue their aspirations.

Zhu said the actions reflected the DPP authorities' "insecurity and fear", adding that any attempt to undermine cross-Strait exchanges and integration is doomed to fail.

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She made the remarks in response to a recent dialogue between Lai and high school students in Taiwan, during which Lai claimed that the influence of TikTok and RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, on the island's younger generation had become a "security crisis".

Lai said such influence could erode Taiwan's "will to safeguard democracy" and lead people to view the mainland as "benign". He called on the island's education and cultural authorities to address the issue.

"Mainland compatriots are not only good people to Taiwan compatriots, but also their relatives and family members," Zhu said.

She noted that the growing popularity of mainland social media apps among Taiwan residents, especially the younger generation, reflects how the platforms have enabled richer life experiences and greater opportunities for self-expression.

According to statistics, there are about 3 million RedNote users in Taiwan, with around 30 percent of high school students using the app. Users commonly turn to the platform for recommendations on travel, fashion and dining experiences.

In December, the DPP authorities in Taiwan announced a one-year ban on RedNote, citing fraud cases associated with the platform. However, users in Taiwan with local IP addresses reportedly remain active on the platform despite the ban.

In addition to RedNote, the DPP authorities have recently identified four other mainland-developed apps as potential risks related to real-time behavioral monitoring, system information collection, and data transmission and sharing.

The apps include Amap, a navigation service; Bilibili, a video-sharing platform; iQIYI, a streaming platform; and BIMOBIMO, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot application. The DPP authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant in safeguarding their digital security.

Zhu criticized the DPP authorities for discrediting mainland technology products and discouraging Taiwan residents from using related applications. She said the move was driven by the agenda of "opposing and resisting the mainland".

"Such actions are anti-technology and contrary to the trend of the times, and will only lead to growing public discontent in Taiwan," Zhu said.

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During the news conference, the spokeswoman also reiterated that peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are the basic policy framework for resolving the Taiwan question and the preferred approach to achieving national reunification. She was responding to a recent report by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, on the mainland's approach to Taiwan.

She said the specific form of implementing "one country, two systems" in Taiwan would fully take into account the island's realities, draw extensively on the views and suggestions of people from all sectors on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and give full consideration to the interests and sentiments of Taiwan compatriots.

Zhu added that, provided national sovereignty, security and development interests are safeguarded, Taiwan's social system and way of life would be fully respected after peaceful reunification, and the aspiration of Taiwan compatriots to be masters of their own affairs would be fully protected in accordance with the law.

Contact the writers at lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn