RedNote ban triggers backlash in Taiwan region

RedNote, a popular mainland social media platform used by millions in the Taiwan region, has now been made off-limits on the island, erupting widespread criticism and sparking questions about where the line now stands between digital security and information control.

According to local media reports, RedNote has more than 3 million active users in Taiwan.

On Thursday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities imposed a one-year ban on the platform, citing a so-called "failure to pass information security monitoring" and alleged links to fraud cases.

DPP Authorities claim the restriction is aimed at preventing online fraud, citing more than 1,700 scam-related cases allegedly linked to the platform over the past two years.

However, critics argue that the explanation does not align with the facts, and many residents view the move as an attempt to limit cross-Strait communication. According to statistics released by the relevant departments, RedNote does not appear on the list of major platforms associated with fraud in the Taiwan region.

By contrast, Facebook alone has reportedly been linked to over 50,000 fraud cases in the past 30 days.

"This decision is simply ridiculous, because the reason they cited was that RedNote was involved in fraud. In Taiwan, people lose as much as 400 million New Taiwan dollars (about 12.78 million U.S. dollars) to scams every day. Seventy percent of that comes from Facebook -- that's about 280 million New Taiwan dollars a day. Yet instead of targeting that, they use it as an excuse to ban RedNote," said Hsieh Chih-chuan, a political commentator.

The restriction follows an earlier warning issued in July, when authorities discouraged the public from downloading five applications from the mainland, including RedNote.

Many commentators now believe the decision to block RedNote was planned long in advance. Although the app will be made unavailable to island residents, observers point out that it is far more difficult to cut off the growing curiosity among young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"Through RedNote, people in Taiwan can see the real development and progress in the mainland. And that is exactly what DPP authorities fear most. It also helps young people on both sides to better understand each other. In Taiwan, most of its users are between the ages of about 15 and 35 -- precisely the group the DPP is trying to win over. But once it is banned, I believe the DPP will end up losing even more of the youth votes," said Hsieh.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also voiced criticism, saying the popularity of these apps comes from their efficiency, convenience and ability to bring people closer through shared experiences and adding that the true motivation behind the ban is not security, but insecurity.

RedNote ban triggers backlash in Taiwan region

RedNote ban triggers backlash in Taiwan region

The world-renowned Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) celebrated its 105th anniversary in Beijing on Thursday, with the occasion highlighting the enduring history and fruitful results of health cooperation between China and the United States.

Founded by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1921, PUMCH has grown into a modern, comprehensive hospital integrating medical care, teaching and research, and stands as a living testament to the two countries' people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine.

"Medicine embodies humanity's shared pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. By its very nature, it fosters mutual understanding among people. It is this value consensus that has driven the development of medical exchanges between China and the United States across oceans, forging profound bonds through mutual learning and inspiration," said Zhang Shuyang, president of the hospital, in a speech at a conference in Beijing.

The Rockefeller Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1913 by American industrialist John D. Rockefeller, aimed to improve public health services and medical education. This establishment of PUMCH marked a milestone in the history of medical cooperation between China and the United States.

The conference highlighted the history of medical and health cooperation between the two countries.

"One hundred and five years ago, American and Chinese physicians, scientists and philanthropists made a decision that would dramatically impact the course of medicine, not only in China, but the entire world. The Rockefeller Foundation, partnering with the China Medical Board, invested not in commerce, not in politics, but in people. They brought the Johns Hopkins model of academic medicine to Beijing," said David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China.

According to the American Chamber of Commerce in China, pharmaceutical and medical cooperation between Chinese and American universities, institutions and companies has achieved fruitful results, especially in areas such as rare disease drugs, gene therapy and cancer treatment.

"We've seen the integration of excellence in clinical care and education research and public service. PUMCH remains a living testament to the enduring value of U.S.-China people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine," said Roger I. Glass, president of China Medical Board.

Experts believe that, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, China and the United States can work together to explore the application of digital health technology in remote medical services, medical data management and other scenarios, setting an example for global cooperation in digital healthcare.

China-US health cooperation highlighted as Peking Union Medical College Hospital marks 105th anniversary