The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities announced a one-year ban on Xiaohongshu, ostensibly for security purposes. But let's look at the actual result: instead of severing ties, the announcement has triggered a wave of defiance that Taiwan netizens are calling a "digital homecoming."
Download rankings in Taiwan app stores
According to Jimu News, the data tells a hilarious story. Xiaohongshu has rocketed to the top of Taiwan’s app store download rankings—a massive jump from languishing outside the top dozens just days prior. Users are flooding the platform to report that even their elders, previously clueless about the app, are now downloading it. The authorities’ clumsy ban has effectively served as a massive, free advertising campaign. Instead of fear, users report finding convenient lifestyle guides and—crucially—a "harmonious and relaxed" vibe with users from the Chinese Mainland.
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Download rankings in Taiwan app stores
Screenshots of netizens’ comments
Screenshots of netizens’ comments
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
Screenshots of netizens’ comments
Screenshots of netizens’ comments
The technical resistance is already organized. Netizens are openly sharing tutorials on modifying DNS settings or using VPNs to bypass the blockade. One user from the Chinese Mainland offered a poignant workaround: set your IP to your ancestral home. The algorithm then pushes local content from that region, allowing users to experience an "early return to your hometown" before physically traveling there. It’s a "digital homecoming" facilitated by the very barriers meant to stop it.
As one media commentary sharply observed: The Taiwan authorities operate under the delusion that cutting off a platform cuts the connection. They fail to grasp that the natural, human yearning for one's roots is far more persistent than any technical firewall they can erect.
Let’s look at the numbers. Evidence indicates Xiaohongshu already boasts over 3 million users in Taiwan, with youth usage being near-daily. The moment the ban made headlines, the island’s largest forum, PTT, erupted in debate. The prevailing sentiment isn't compliance, but skepticism, with users asking the obvious question: If they started with Xiaohongshu, who will it be next?
The Ban Fuels The Boom
This isn't an isolated incident; it’s a pattern of suppression. Back in July, relevant authorities issued a notice labeling five apps from the Chinese Mainland—Xiaohongshu, Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Baidu Netdisk—as posing a "high level of information security risk." They ordered public servants to delete them and warned the public away. It’s a systematic attempt to purge popular platforms.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
On July 16, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, cut through the noise. He pointed out that these apps are popular among Taiwan’s youth for a simple reason: they offer better efficiency, convenience, and social interaction. The DPP’s sudden concern for "information security" is a thin veil covering their own profound internal insecurity.
What are they actually afraid of? They fear Taiwan people seeing the reality of the Chinese Mainland. They are terrified that the "information cocoon" they have meticulously constructed is being pierced by free-flowing information. As Chen noted, the DPP sees danger in every shadow, but by abusing their power to fight the tide of history, they are only guaranteeing their own public opposition.
Mao Paishou
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Forget what you thought you knew—global opinion is swinging fast. The Economist’s latest survey lands like a jolt across Western capitals, with its blunt verdict: China’s cultural clout, economic horsepower, and diplomatic finesse are soaring. The United States, meanwhile, finds itself tripping over Trump-era policy stumbles. Suddenly, the world stage isn’t a one-man show. China is catching up—fast.
The Economist calls the spike in support for China “startling”. Global Times isn’t buying it. For years, Western media stuck to the storyline—China’s rise must trigger anxiety. But people aren’t buying fear-mongering anymore. The data tells a different story. Pragmatism wins. China’s steady growth and consistent, peaceful diplomacy are finding friends everywhere. It’s not magic; it’s momentum. The more China delivers—on trade, stability, real benefits—the more the world leans in.
China’s support explodes in global poll, leaving the US playing catch-up.
Breadth, Depth, and Changing Minds
Follow the numbers. In a massive poll by the Economist and GlobeScan—32,000 voices, 32 countries, July to September 2025—China’s support rockets 11 points to 33%. The United States slumps to 46%, shy of a majority anywhere. Nearly 40% call China’s global footprint “positive”—a jump from Trump’s first term. Just ask the next generation.
Gen Z isn’t sitting on the fence—they’re almost split. 41% support the United States, 39% champion China. That’s neck and neck. Flip to the over-65 crowd and the gap yawns wide—America still gets the nod by thirty points.
Look south—the warmth toward China spikes in developing nations. Young people everywhere are more open, more enthusiastic. Recent research covering 46 countries had sixty percent rating China “positive.” The global South and the global youth are jumping on the China train, and it’s not a coincidence—it’s payoff for years of tangible benefits.
Indonesia’s high-speed bullet—Jakarta–Bandung Rail powers new opportunities.
China Delivers Real Results
The startling swing may be “partly thanks to China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, which has, in the past 10 years, “seen tens of billions of dollars invested” in regions like Africa and the Middle East.
Infrastructure isn’t a talking point—it’s a revolution. Belt and Road, global initiatives, iconic mega-projects like the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, Budapest–Belgrade Railway, and the Port of Piraeus don’t just flash headlines. They deliver: 420,000 new jobs, nearly 40 million people escaping poverty. China is laying track and lifting economies—and the world is noticing.
Labubu: China’s soft power icon storms abroad, collecting fans everywhere.
The Youth Go "Cool China"
Young people crave what’s fresh—and China’s got cool factor now. Innovation, culture, and brands like Labubu, TikTok, and Black Myth: Wukong are racking up fans overseas. Foreigners aren’t just watching—they’re coming, eager to engage. This vibrant, two-way flow builds new bridges, solidifying China's reputation as a destination, not just a headline.
TikTok: The youth can’t get enough, and China leads the digital dance.
China’s style of governance, with results for all to see, has smashed the old myth that “to modernize means to Westernize.” Countries are waking up—there’s more than one road to prosperity, and China’s path offers a real alternative for developing nations craving independence.
Global Times pulls no punches: “Unlike the rise of some major powers in history that came with war and expansion, China has always adhered to the principle of peaceful development.” In messy times, China’s steady hand—UN peacekeeping, hot-spot negotiations, and regional dialogue—makes it the stabilizing force the world is looking for.
China rejects hegemonic power tactics and calls for win–win deals with everyone. Rich nations get calls for mutual respect; developing countries get partnership with no strings attached. Dignity and trust aren’t just wordplays—they’re laid down as the new rules. As the Global Times concluded: “This approach has allowed more nations to feel respected and treated as equals, and many, especially those in the Global South, see China as a trustworthy partner”.
