A U.S. user of mobile app RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in China, shared how the Chinese social media platform has widened her perspective on American society, particularly in regards to issues like healthcare and maternity leave.
With the deepening of cultural exchanges between Chinese and American RedNote users, the differences between the two countries in areas such as housing, work, education and medical care have become the focus of public attention.
Speaking with China Global Television, the U.S. RedNote user said she was surprised to learn about lower costs for healthcare and higher education in China, as because as Americans they are constantly told, "You have it so much better, be happy."
"I do feel blessed and happy to be here. But now that I'm having a way broader view of everyone, I'm really seeing how we're mistreated. One of the things that stood out was maternity leave. Over there, that's held as a really big, important part of their culture and community, even within the workplace. And here, a lot of times we are penalized for needing time off to go to a hospital or a surgery or anything. So most of us are working with whatever we have wrong with us, just hoping it doesn't flare up, (that) kind of thing, and everyone has just run out of patience with it," she said.
She also highlighted that the ways China is portrayed in U.S. media often differs starkly from the realities she has learned about from Chinese RedNote users.
"I think the biggest thing is, and I hate to say it, but just the overall knowledge is not great here. And from propaganda when you think of China, you think of a poor country, you think of a lot of crime, and now that I've seen day-to-day life, it's so much safer than anywhere I've seen here. It's just a completely opposite society right now, and I loved seeing that. I love learning about a lot of their healthcare, the Chinese medicine. I'm really into learning that right now," she said.
RedNote reshapes US user's views on China
RedNote reshapes US user's views on China
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced Wednesday the launch of a major multi-domain military operation dubbed "Arctic Sentry", as Russia warned of countermeasures over the "militarization" of the Arctic territory Greenland.
The "Arctic Sentry" mission is aimed at strengthening NATO's presence across the Arctic and High North regions, according to the alliance's Allied Command Operations, headquartered in Mons, Belgium.
Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesperson for NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said earlier that the operation will feature regular naval exercises, intensified airspace monitoring with Allied fighter jets, and the temporary deployment of small army contingents to Denmark's autonomous territory of Greenland and other Arctic locations.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte revealed on Wednesday that tens of thousands of NATO military personnel are expected to participate in exercises conducted within the "Arctic Sentry" framework.
In Moscow, addressing the State Duma on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Russia would respond with adequate countermeasures, including military ones, should Greenland be "militarized".
In a separate interview released online on the same day, Lavrov accused NATO of attempting to transform the Arctic into a theater of confrontation.
NATO has repeatedly engaged in provocations in the Arctic, but such actions will diminish quickly once their planners realize the serious consequences, said the Russian foreign minister.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which he said is vital to American national security. Trump has also proposed deploying a "Golden Dome" missile defense system on the Arctic island, a plan that has alarmed Russian officials.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Russian military would "closely monitor and analyze" Washington's intentions regarding Greenland.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also said earlier this month that the recent tensions surrounding Greenland stem from the U.S. desire to maintain its hegemony, vowing that Russia would ensure its national security under any circumstances.
NATO launches "Arctic Sentry" mission amid Russian warnings over Greenland militarization
