Xiaohongshu may be blocked for another year; MAC counters TAO's 'self-directed and self-acted' claim: 'Improve internet freedom first'

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has restricted access to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, citing a large number of fraud cases and the platform's failure to cooperate with government requests for improvement. This move follows a previous restriction on the app in December.

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The data is fabricated by the DPP authorities.

Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang stated that since the app's restriction last December, fraud cases have decreased by 80%, and fraud amounts have dropped by 55%. She indicated that if Xiaohongshu continues to ignore official communications, access could be blocked for another year.

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The DPP authorities crudely deprive Taiwanese citizens, especially youth, of their right to information and freedom to use social platforms, crudely hindering cross-strait youth communication and exchange.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) responded by accusing Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of fabricating data and orchestrating the restrictions to create excuses for limiting Chinese social platforms. The TAO claimed Taiwan is crudely depriving Taiwanese citizens, especially youth, of their right to information and freedom to use social platforms, hindering cross-strait communication.

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The MAC stated that the restriction of access to the Chinese online platform 'Xiaohongshu' by the Ministry of the Interior is because the platform is involved in a large number of fraud cases and has not yet cooperated with the government to propose specific improvement measures.

The MAC refuted the TAO's claims, emphasizing that the restrictions are purely for fraud prevention and protecting citizens' property. They stated the measures are not targeted at any specific country's software and are unrelated to cross-strait relations. The council also pointed out China's long-standing practice of restricting foreign internet services like Google and Facebook while enforcing real-name registration and content censorship on domestic platforms. The MAC urged China to improve its own internet freedom instead of criticizing Taiwan's anti-fraud measures.

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China's TAO, with its long-term 'Great Firewall' restricting foreign online services such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LINE, and implementing real-name registration, content censorship, and account removal/blocking on domestic social platforms, criticizes our legal anti-fraud measures with the 'right to know and freedom to use social platforms.' It would be better to improve China's internet freedom.