Spokesperson: DPP's threat on Chinese mainland apps unpopular and doomed to fail

Amid widespread public praise in Taiwan for Amap's newly launched traffic light countdown function, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have threatened to ban the mainland navigation app, raising so-called security concerns. It's absurd and ridiculous to ban or block mainland's technology and products just because they are effective and popular, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Recently, Chinese mainland's navigation app Amap rolled out the traffic light countdown feature in Taiwan, boasting nearly error-free navigation timing that has won high recognition from local residents for its convenience and high efficiency. However, the DPP authorities claimed that if potential security risks are confirmed, they would order local government agencies to suspend the use of the app and advise the general public to follow suit.

Such actions are unpopular and doomed to fail, said Chen.

The Chinese mainland has world-leading digital mapping, navigation and location-based service technologies, with many relevant applications widely adopted across the mainland and many countries and regions for years. These tech services meet people's daily needs, cut travel time and enrich daily life, embodying the value of technological progress benefiting humanity, said Chen.

As early as 2022, mainland mapping platforms including Baidu Maps and Amap offered street-level precise mapping service across local cities and counties, with real-time updates on traffic lights and road congestion conditions. In June 2025, Amap launched lane-level navigation in the region, providing precise guidance for each driving lane and traffic signal status.

Local media such as TVBS News has reported the high accuracy of Amap. Citing local users, it reported that the app can clearly mark buildings and road names, remind drivers of road conditions ahead, and even give timely alerts if there are children on the road.

In addition to Amap, the mainland also has many other cutting-edge technologies and high-quality innovative products, said Chen, noting that "people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one big family, and we are willing to let our Taiwan compatriots be the first to share these technological achievements."

The spokesperson criticized that in its pursuit of separatist "Taiwan independence," the DPP authorities have opposed the mainland to the point of being anti-intellectual and anti-technology.