Taiwan authorities' ban on the popular mainland social media app Rednote (also known as Xiaohongshu) is a typical case of "double-standard" political manipulation, said a central government spokeswoman at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities imposed a one-year ban on the app in early December, citing a so-called "emergency incident related to fraud prevention". The move has been criticized as "an illegal expansion of authority" and has triggered strong backlash in Taiwan.
The Taiwan authorities have claimed that the action constitutes a "legally based, generalized emergency and necessary response," which is unrelated to cross-Strait policy or relations.
Zhu Fenglian, the spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, refuted the DPP authorities’ explanation as feeble and futile.
"According to reports from media outlets in Taiwan, nearly 60,000 fraud-related cases involving Facebook were recorded in the island last year, and this year's figure has already surpassed 30,000 cases, far exceeding the number of so-called cases involving Rednote cited by the DPP authorities. The DPP's imposition of a ban on Rednote is a typical case of 'double-standard' political manipulation. Their claim to be 'combating fraud' serves merely as a pretext driven by ulterior motives. The real purpose is to pursue Taiwan separatism, deliberately incite 'anti-China, defend Taiwan' sentiments, cut off channels of cross-Strait communication, and deprive people of Taiwan, especially the young generations, of their right to information and freedom to use social media platforms. The DPP's egregious actions have sparked strong dissatisfaction and opposition among the people in the island, particularly the young people," Zhu said.
Taiwan's ban of mainland social media app a case of political manipulation: spokeswoman
China on Wednesday condemned the Philippines' "thief crying stop thief" behavior after Manila organized vessels to illegally intrude into the lagoon of China's Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea.
Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to Philippines' false accusations about Chinese maritime law enforcement actions against Philippine personnel near Xianbin Jiao.
Jiang said that the Philippines deliberately organized and dispatched a large number of vessels to intrude into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao illegally. Personnel on the Philippine vessels even brandished knives to threaten Chinese coast guard officers conducting lawful operations, an act that was "utterly egregious in nature".
"The measures taken by the Chinese side were necessary actions to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," the spokesperson emphasized. "They were reasonable, lawful, professional, and restrained."
"In the face of clear facts, certain people on the Philippine side are blatantly distorting the facts, making excuses to deny their own infringement and provocation. They even turned around to accuse China, which is completely reversing right and wrong and crying thief while being one themselves," said Jiang.
"For some time, the Philippine side has repeatedly stirred up incidents at sea, staging self-directed and self-staged farces, deliberately smearing and accusing China, agitating the situation in the South China Sea and undermining regional stability. We solemnly warn the Philippine side that playing the victim, hyping up and sensationalizing the issue will not change the nature of its illegal infringements, nor will it mislead the international community or shake China's resolve to safeguard its rights in accordance with the law. China will continue to take firm and effective measures to resolutely respond to all acts of infringement and provocation," he continued.
China reaffirms sovereignty over Xianbin Jiao, denounces Philippines' false accusations
