Taiwan opposition accuses censorship in ban of China's Rednote app

TAIPEI, Dec 5 Taiwan's opposition leader condemned the government's proposal to suspend access to the Chinese social media platform Rednote for a year, calling it a form of censorship, while the presidential office expressed its support for the measure.

The islands interior ministry pointed to security concerns and linked the Instagram-like app, known as Xiaohongshu in China, to over 1,700 fraud cases since 2024 when announcing the plan. The platform, which has around 3 million users in Taiwan, has not yet commented on the proposed suspension.

"Many people online are already asking how to bypass the firewall to reach Xiaohongshu," wrote Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, on Facebook. Using a phrase associated with virtual private networks (VPNs) to evade censorship in China, Cheng, whose party favors closer ties with Beijing, described the ban as a significant limitation on online freedom.

She added that this move "underscores concerns that Taiwan's long-valued internet freedom and free speech have been restricted under the Democratic Progressive Party in the name of national security," referring to the ruling party.

Rednote gained popularity among U.S. users earlier this year amid worries that TikTok, also Chinese-owned, might face a ban in the U.S., which was later averted after a divestiture plan.

Taiwans Stance on Chinese Apps

While China blocks many Western social media platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and Google, Taiwan generally maintains open access and values digital freedom. Authorities have consistently warned about risks from Chinese apps, especially concerning potential disinformation campaigns originating from Beijing.

The interior ministry noted that Rednote had not responded to government inquiries about ensuring user data safety. Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwans presidential office, stated that the ministry had provided a timely explanation regarding fraud and security risks, and the office supports the proposed action.

Taiwan has also accused China of targeting Taiwanese users to spread misinformation and erode public trust through Western social media platforms banned in China. For example, in October, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office created a Facebook page using traditional Chinese characters, which was quickly inundated with posts mocking Beijing's censorship and displaying Taiwan flags.

Taiwan rejects Chinas sovereignty claims and maintains that its people alone decide the islands future. Both governments do not formally recognize each other.

Author: Grace Ellison