Q&A

Q: Why did the Democratic Progressive Party ban lifestyle-sharing app Xiaohongshu, or Rednote, in Taiwan?

A: The app broke the "information cocoon" created by the DPP because it showcases the real daily lives of Chinese mainland residents, debunking the DPP's fabricated narratives. Through lifestyle and interest-driven content, Taiwan users naturally discovered the prosperity, technological advancements and safety of mainland cities, exposing the DPP and separatist media's lies, such as "mainland people can't afford tea eggs" and "high-speed train seats lack backrests". This undermined the DPP's ability to smear the mainland and manipulate public perception.

Its users were mainly young people. It had approximately 3 million monthly active users in Taiwan, and around 70 percent were under 40. Its rapid growth, with 1.27 million new downloads last year, alarmed the DPP, which feared losing young voters as they saw through its attempts at deception.

The app fostered a peaceful and friendly atmosphere, enabling emotional connections between people from both sides of the Strait. This countered the DPP's efforts to create "anti-China" sentiment and artificial cross-Strait tensions for political gain.

Many of Taiwan's first-time visitors to the mainland used the app for travel guides and tips. Upon experiencing the mainland firsthand, they realized their preconceived notions were false, challenging the DPP's narrative.

The DPP authorities' ban on the app was purely "political manipulation", using so-called anti-fraud pretexts and a lack of local registration to target a mainland app.

The DPP banning the app has backfired. The platform's young female users, previously apolitical and non-voters, are now angered, with many vowing to use their votes to express discontent.

The DPP's focus on "resisting China" over improving livelihoods has alienated growing numbers of Taiwan residents, who see through its true intentions. If the DPP continues down this path, it risks facing even greater public backlash in the future.

The question was answered by Ren Dongmei, a research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Contact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn