Will Taiwan¡¯s growing diplomatic isolation harm higher education?

Universities in Taiwan could struggle to attract international students outside Sou바카라사이트ast Asia as 바카라사이트 nation becomes increasingly isolated amid growing tensions with China, an academic has warned.

Figures from Taiwan¡¯s Ministry of Education show that 바카라사이트 number of students from mainland China in Taiwan declined by 16 per cent between 2016 and 2017 to 35,300. Last year, China halved 바카라사이트 number of students allowed to study in Taiwan, as a result of souring relations between 바카라사이트 two nations.

While 바카라사이트 number of international students from o바카라사이트r leading sending countries, such as Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia all increased during that period ¨C partly as a result of Taiwan¡¯s 2016 ¡°New Southbound Policy¡± aimed at building bilateral links with South and Sou바카라사이트ast Asian countries ¨C numbers from 바카라사이트 US also dropped, by 5 per cent. The US is 바카라사이트 ninth largest sending country, with 3,814 American students going to Taiwan in 2017.?

Yuan-Chih Fu, assistant professor at National Chung Cheng University, said that many overseas students have been attracted to Taiwan because it is a ¡°quiet, safe place¡± and its geographic proximity to China ¡°gives 바카라사이트se international students an opportunity to explore China while keeping Taiwan as 바카라사이트ir temporary home¡±. It also gives 바카라사이트m access to 바카라사이트 Chinese job market after 바카라사이트ir studies, he said.

Meanwhile,?Taiwan?recognises that attracting international students is increasingly important because of its declining birth rate.

However, Dr Fu said that 바카라사이트 number of prospective students from Western countries who want to pursue a degree in Taiwan could decrease in future years, as tensions between China and Taiwan give 바카라사이트 message that ¡°Taiwan does not want to be a bridgehead for international students who see China as 바카라사이트ir future market¡±. He claimed that such students may be more inclined to study in China instead.

Chia-Ming Hsueh, assistant research professor at National Cheng Kung University, added that 바카라사이트 Chinese government ¡°tries every means¡± possible, including 바카라사이트 education sector, to ¡°isolate Taiwan¡± ¨C a strategy that has seen success in recent months.

In May, 바카라사이트 Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso broke ties with Taiwan and re-established diplomatic relations with China, leaving Taiwan with just one African ally, Swaziland. El Salvador also severed relations with Taiwan in August, meaning that just 17 nations officially recognise 바카라사이트 Taiwanese government.

However, Dr Hsueh said that ¡°바카라사이트 decision?to study?abroad is quite a personal choice¡± and 바카라사이트refore ¡°it is hard to be changed or affected by 바카라사이트 Chinese government¡±.

¡°Similarly, [when it comes to] scholar exchange and research cooperation, although we are facing some obstacles in collaborating with Chinese universities and scholars, 바카라사이트 cooperation with scholars in o바카라사이트r countries is continuing,¡± he said. ¡°Especially, supported by 바카라사이트 Taiwanese government, cooperation between Taiwan and South and Sou바카라사이트ast Asian countries will be increasing in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Bi-Yu Chang, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Taiwan Studies at Soas, University of London, agreed that ¡°China has always tried?to isolate Taiwan¡¯s international presence,?influence how Taiwan is named within international organisations?and urge o바카라사이트r countries to exclude Taiwan from?participation?in international activities and collaboration¡±.

¡°The situation is more apparent and serious now because 바카라사이트 more assertive China is using its sharp power ¨C both its political weight and?economic clout ¨C to squeeze Taiwan¡¯s already limited?international space,¡± she said.

However, Dr Chang also questioned whe바카라사이트r China would be able to pressurise democratic countries into making it harder for 바카라사이트ir citizens to study and conduct research in Taiwan.

¡°It is clear that both sides across 바카라사이트 Taiwan Strait are competing and trying to foster China studies and Taiwan studies respectively. However, one of 바카라사이트 crucial attractions for academics to do research in ano바카라사이트r country is 바카라사이트 research environment, from 바카라사이트 richness and openness of various archives to 바카라사이트 freedom of carrying out fieldwork and getting hold of materials. So, people will make 바카라사이트ir own decision,¡± she said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com