A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for imposing a one-year ban on the popular social media app RedNote, saying the ban has "trampled on democracy and undermined the freedom" of people in Taiwan.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press conference that the ban has deprived Taiwan people, especially the young, of their right to access information and their freedom to use social media platforms. It has also severely impacted the livelihoods of those on the island who depend on the app for income.

RedNote, a social media platform based in Shanghai, is popular among Chinese-speaking communities. Most users look for advice on fashion, beauty, travel, and other daily topics.

The app has over 3 million users in China's Taiwan region, and about 70 percent are under the age of 35.

Chen said friendly interactions on the app have helped Taiwan's young people understand what is really happening on the mainland.

Chen said that the ban has punctured the information "echo chamber" deliberately built by the DPP authorities. It has also countered their smear campaign to vilify the mainland and revealed their fear and anxiety.

(With input from Xinhua)