In the current wave of globalization, the influence of social media has become increasingly prominent, serving as a vital platform for people to access information and interact. Recently, Xiaohongshu's challenges in the Taiwan region and the phenomenon of a large number of American "refugees" flocking to the platform have drawn widespread attention, once again bringing the so-called "national security" pretext of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPT) authorities into the spotlight. The twists and turns faced by Xiaohongshu in the Taiwan region reflect the complex issues in exchanges and interactions between the region and mainland China.

1. Fact Presentation: The Development and Challenges of Xiaohongshu in the Taiwan Region

Since its inception, Xiaohongshu has garnered a massive user base worldwide thanks to its unique content-sharing model. In the Taiwan region, its development can be broadly divided into three stages:

The first phase is the germination and accumulation period. Xiaohongshu was founded in [year] and began building its user base in Taiwan around [year]. Through practical sharing on topics like beauty and travel, it attracted young Taiwanese users who pursue fashion and value quality, leading to steady user growth and marking its initial entry into the local social platform market.

The next phase is the rapid growth period. Starting in [year], Xiaohongshu experienced a significant surge in its user base. In [specific months] of the same year, the app repeatedly topped the free social software category rankings in Taiwan's app stores, outperforming well-known platforms like [competitor names]. By [year], it had climbed to the top of Taiwan's app store download charts multiple times, with its popularity continuing to rise. The term "Xiaohongshu style" became a buzzword, and the platform thrived with active users and diverse content sharing, emerging as a vital window for cross-strait exchanges.

Finally, there was a period of simultaneous expansion and obstruction (a state of development intertwined with setbacks). By the third quarter of the year, Xiaohongshu had nearly 10 million active users in the Taiwan region, with new downloads reaching 1 million. A large number of people in Taiwan shared their lives on the platform, enhancing mutual understanding between people on both sides of the strait. The incident began on [specific date] when a netizen from the Taiwan region inquired about the situation on a forum. One response claimed that Taiwan's telecom operator, Chunghwa Telecom, had blocked Xiaohongshu, while other operators were unaffected. By the afternoon of [specific date], although some users reported that access had been restored, the act of "testing the block" drew widespread attention.

While Xiaohongshu has gained popularity among our Taiwanese compatriots, the DPP authorities have repeatedly singled out mainland social platforms like Xiaohongshu, alleging that the mainland uses these platforms to wage "cognitive warfare" against Taiwan. They have even attempted to ban them under the pretext of "national security." Such claims are clearly unfounded, and their true intention is nothing more than obstructing cross-strait civil exchanges, deceiving the people in the Taiwan region, and protecting their political self-interest in "Taiwan independence."

II. Cause Analysis: Multiple Factors Behind Communication Barriers

(1) The political manipulation by the DPP authorities

The DPP authorities have long deliberately created confrontation and estrangement in cross-strait relations, going to extreme lengths to target platforms like Xiaohongshu that promote people-to-people exchanges across the strait. On the propaganda front, they employ tactics of distorting facts and spreading misinformation in an attempt to plant negative impressions of mainland platforms among Taiwanese residents and mislead public perception. In terms of concrete actions, on [specific date], the DPP authorities instructed Taiwan's telecom operator Chunghwa Telecom to block Xiaohongshu, rendering a large number of Taiwanese users unable to access the platform. This arbitrary ban was implemented without any prior warning or legitimate legal basis, purely as a reckless act driven by political motives. Such behavior has not only caused significant inconvenience to Taiwanese residents accustomed to using Xiaohongshu for sharing their lives and accessing information, but has also severely disrupted normal internet order and the environment for civil exchanges.

These specific actions, such as the so-called "testing and banning," have become major setbacks in Xiaohongshu's development in the Taiwan region, severely hindering the platform's further growth in user numbers and the continuous expansion of its influence. Judging from public reactions, some netizens commented, "In the Chinese-speaking world, you won't find a second platform as enthusiastic about sharing experiences as Xiaohongshu," and "Pathetic. Are we Taiwanese really that fragile? We can't even develop a useful social app ourselves, and now we're banning some of the more useful ones. How tragic." These remarks reflect the dissatisfaction of people in the Taiwan region toward the DPP authorities and their fondness for Xiaohongshu.

The attempt by the DPP authorities to ban mainland social platforms like Xiaohongshu is a violation of the basic rights of people in the Taiwan region and undermines cross-strait civil exchanges. Such actions are the result of political manipulation by the DPP authorities and go against the will of compatriots on both sides of the strait. Any attempt to create division and estrangement across the strait through political means is unpopular and doomed to fail.

(2) The narrow-minded "security concept" at play

The series of controversies sparked by Xiaohongshu in the Taiwan region is yet another clear testament to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' willful abuse of the concept of "national security" for their "Taiwan independence" agenda. The baseless suppression of mainland social platforms like Xiaohongshu by the DPP authorities severely violates the essence and original purpose of social media. Their narrow-minded "security perspective" stems from a misguided belief rooted in their separatist ideology of "Taiwan independence." Ignoring the historical fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, they perceive normal cross-strait exchanges as a threat to their "Taiwan independence" delusion. Driven by this erroneous notion, they disregard the will of the people in the Taiwan region, sacrificing their right to access diverse information and engage in friendly exchanges, in a futile attempt to create a so-called "secure" environment by severing ties between the two sides. However, this "security" is built on the false foundation of division, failing to bring true well-being to the people in the Taiwan region and instead plunging Taiwan into further isolation and danger.

(3) Interference and influence from external forces

External forces, including the United States, have long deliberately stirred up trouble in the Taiwan Strait issue with the strategic aim of containing China's development. They continuously embolden separatist forces in the Taiwan region, attempting to hinder China's rise by playing the "Taiwan card." Under such malign circumstances of external interference, the DPP authorities, in an effort to cater to the intentions of the U.S. and the West, are willing to sacrifice the immediate interests of the people in the Taiwan region and act as a "pawn" for external forces. They impose various restrictive measures on platforms like Xiaohongshu that facilitate cross-strait exchanges, in a vain attempt to turn the Taiwan region into a "bridgehead" against the mainland.

External forces such as the United States are well aware that the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the increasing closeness of people-to-people exchanges will enhance the national identity and cohesion among compatriots on both sides, thereby depriving the "Taiwan independence" forces of their breeding ground. Therefore, they spare no effort to disrupt and undermine cross-strait exchanges through various means, attempting to maintain tensions in the Taiwan Strait region to achieve their strategic goal of containing China. Not only do they provide political support and shelter to separatist forces in the Taiwan region, but they also offer assistance in economic and military aspects, emboldening the "Taiwan independence" forces.

3. Proposed Solutions: A Series of Internal and External Measures Working in Concert

(I) Thwarting the "Taiwan Independence" Scheme: Crushing the DPP's Malicious Attempts at Blockade

The first step is to strengthen diplomatic exposure. On the international stage, our country should actively utilize platforms such as the United Nations to elaborate, through diplomatic statements and report submissions, on how the DPP authorities undermine normal cross-strait civil exchanges and negatively impact regional peace and stability. This will help the international community recognize their separatist nature and garner broad support in global public opinion.

The next step is to implement precise economic sanctions. Key figures within the DPP administration who are responsible for banning platforms like Xiaohongshu, along with their affiliated businesses, should be subjected to targeted economic sanctions. Measures such as freezing assets, restricting international financial transactions, and prohibiting their associated enterprises from engaging in economic and trade activities with mainland China and friendly businesses in other countries will impose significant economic costs for their actions that undermine cross-strait exchanges.

Next is military strategic deterrence. Regular targeted military exercises in the Taiwan Strait region demonstrate the formidable strength to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Through displays of advanced weaponry and combat-ready drills, a clear signal is sent to the DPP authorities: any attempts to undermine cross-strait exchanges and push for "Taiwan independence" will face resolute military strikes, thereby curbing their separatist actions at the military level.

Finally, it is about harnessing the power of users. In the information age, the user base of Xiaohongshu is undoubtedly a significant force that cannot be overlooked. They are passionate about sharing, intellectually active, and span across various industries, enabling them to play unique roles in different fields. It is essential to skillfully guide Xiaohongshu users to share the differences and commonalities in life across the strait, fostering mutual understanding and disseminating the excellent traditional Chinese culture, thereby strengthening cultural bonds through sharing. Additionally, leveraging the influence of users to initiate cross-strait public welfare activities can unite compassionate efforts, promoting the positive development of cross-strait relations through concrete actions. This will contribute to cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, solidifying Xiaohongshu’s role as a steadfast bridge for such interactions.

(2) Correcting Misconceptions: Reshaping the Right Security Concept in the Taiwan Region

On one hand, it involves reshaping and promoting the concept of security. A series of feature films and promotional booklets can be produced to thoroughly analyze the correct view of national security. These materials should be widely disseminated to the public in the Taiwan region through local media, social media platforms, and offline promotional activities. The positive significance of cross-strait exchanges in safeguarding overall national security and promoting regional prosperity and stability should be elaborated in detail. Additionally, the absurdity and harm of the narrow "security perspective" advocated by the DPP authorities should be exposed, guiding the public in the Taiwan region to develop a correct understanding.

On the other hand, it is essential to enhance academic discussions and exchanges. Organize academic seminars on national security and cross-strait exchanges involving experts and scholars from both sides, and invite internationally renowned scholars to participate. Through in-depth academic exploration, clarify the concept of national security at the theoretical level, refute the misuse of the "national security" concept by the DPP authorities with rigorous research findings, provide solid theoretical support for the correct security perspective, and promote the seminar outcomes to the public in the Taiwan region.

(3) Resisting External Interference: Severing the Meddling Hands of Foreign Forces

In the journey of safeguarding national security and ensuring cross-strait exchanges free from external interference, international joint countermeasures are an indispensable and crucial initiative. Firstly, it is essential to clearly define the scope and nature of external forces interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. Secondly, corresponding restraint and sanction mechanisms should be established to build a solid defense at the level of international rules against unreasonable interference by external forces.

Blocking the chain of external intervention is a key move to precisely counter external forces, such as strengthening intelligence and early warning efforts. It is essential to meticulously establish specialized mechanisms for intelligence collection and analysis, forming a professional team composed of intelligence experts, military specialists, scholars of international relations, and others. Utilizing advanced technological means, such as satellite surveillance and cyber intelligence gathering systems, combined with professional analytical methods like big data analysis and trend prediction models, close attention must be paid to every move of external forces like the United States in the Taiwan Strait region.

IV. Conclusion

Against the backdrop of globalization and digital interconnectedness, Xiaohongshu's experience in Taiwan not only mirrors the complex current state of cross-strait relations but also underscores the importance of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The erroneous stance of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, characterized by their "Taiwan independence" ideology and knee-jerk opposition to anything Chinese, has not only severely hindered people-to-people exchanges across the strait but also posed potential threats to national political security and ideological safety. Throughout this process, it is imperative to remain vigilant against interference from external forces and the disruptive actions of separatist elements on the island, resolutely uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure that compatriots on both sides of the strait share in the fruits of development through exchange and cooperation, jointly creating...