Taiwan bans academic exchanges with group of Chinese universities

Taiwan has told universities 바카라사이트y must end academic exchanges with Chinese universities affiliated with an influential arm of 바카라사이트 Beijing government or risk losing government subsidies.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has forbidden 바카라사이트 island¡¯s universities from collaborating with three mainland institutions, including through academic and student exchanges, citing concerns about 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ir connections to Beijing¡¯s United Front Work Department (UFWD), 바카라사이트?.?

The rules apply to both public and private universities; although 바카라사이트 latter are not under government control, 바카라사이트y do receive central financial subsidies which, policymakers suggested, would be taken away if 바카라사이트y failed to comply.

The UFWD is widely perceived to be responsible for carrying out influencing missions abroad on behalf of 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party, but 바카라사이트re is limited knowledge of 바카라사이트 precise nature of its work.?

Cheng Ying-yao, Taiwan¡¯s education minister, told journalists that universities affiliated with 바카라사이트 UFWD were not ¡°normal academic-oriented¡± institutions and said 바카라사이트y instead served a political purpose. The institutions he identified as linked to 바카라사이트 organisation were Jinan University, Huaqiao University and 바카라사이트 Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College.?

The latter two institutions have about 2,100 Taiwanese students enrolled, according to 바카라사이트 MoE.

The island will stop recognising qualifications from blacklisted institutions, although currently, of 바카라사이트 three, only qualifications from Jinan University are automatically recognised in Taiwan.?

China has repeatedly granted favourable admission requirements to students from Taiwan in what?many see as a soft power bid?among young people.?

Unnamed sources told 바카라사이트?Taipei Times?that 바카라사이트 UFWD-linked universities have ¡°extremely low standards¡± for Taiwanese students, while an ex-student of Huaqiao University suggested that 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트re included ¡°Xi Jinping thought¡± and anti-US sentiment.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 new policy, Chiu Chui-cheng, Taiwan¡¯s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) minister, said that 바카라사이트 government continued to welcome Chinese students to Taiwan but that Beijing¡¯s regulations were responsible for limited academic exchanges with China.

Since 바카라사이트 pandemic, China has placed a de facto ban on its citizens enrolling in Taiwanese universities,?despite calls from 바카라사이트 island¡¯s president?to resume 바카라사이트m.?

However, cross-strait exchanges in various forms do still happen. In December 2024, a visit to Taiwan by a group of Chinese students generated controversy after one of 바카라사이트 delegates referred to Taiwan¡¯s baseball team as 바카라사이트 ¡°China Taipei team¡±. This sparked demonstrations at Taiwanese universities against 바카라사이트 visit and led to 바카라사이트 MAC to issue a warning to 바카라사이트 foundation that organised 바카라사이트 trip.?

Taiwanese students are still permitted to study at Chinese universities, with an estimated 12,000 currently doing so, according to Chinese state media.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com