There are growing suspicions that Chinese social media apps like Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, are being used by China in its united front propaganda efforts against Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said today.
During a legislative hearing, Chiu said that content promoting unification, advocating military force against Taiwan and undermining its sovereignty had been found on the two popular Chinese apps.
Chiu said he hopes Taiwan's Internet regulatory agencies would investigate the matter and address public concerns about such apps.
Photo: CNA
He was responding to a question by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Huang Jie (黃捷) on whether the MAC classifies social media platforms like Xiaohongshu as tools in China's united front propaganda efforts.
Huang called attention to a recent comment by Chinese academic Zhang Weiwei (張維為) that social media platforms like Xiaohongshu have become increasingly popular among young people in Taiwan, thereby advancing China's influence.
"After Taiwan is unified [with China], governing Taiwan would be easier than governing Hong Kong," Zhang said during a recent speech at China's Wuhan University.
Commenting on the speech, Chiu said in today's hearing that it was the first open statement by a Chinese scholar linking the use of popular Chinese social media apps in Taiwan to China's goal of unification.
It indicates that apps like Douyin and Xiaohongshu might be part of China's preparations for unification with Taiwan, Chiu said. Under such circumstances, the Taiwanese public may need to be more vigilant, he added.
Chiu also suggested that Taiwan's schools should start providing social media literacy guidance and education regarding the use of such apps, so that students at all levels can understand the potential risks.
For example, personal information could be used by China and incorporated into the content on those apps to promote unification ideology, he said.
Chiu today also faced other questions about the China issue, when a reporter asked about the potential risks associated with a planned visit to China by Taiwanese Internet celebrity Holger Chen (陳之漢) as a "peace ambassador."
In response, Chiu said that as an ordinary citizen, Chen does not need government approval to travel to China, under Taiwan's current regulations.
Chiu said, however, that he hopes if Chen makes the visit, he would uphold the principles of mutual respect and dignity, abide by Taiwan's regulations and strive to safeguard the overall interests of his country.
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