Education

Taiwan Watchdog Raises Concerns Over Student Exchanges to China

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By TaiwanPlus

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Taiwan’s Control Yuan, the government watchdog, says the Ministry of Education failed to properly enforce regulations governing school exchanges with China after finding a sharp increase in trips by Taiwanese students. The investigation found the biggest rise among elementary and middle school students, with participation growing from 38 and zero students respectively in 2022 to more than a thousand last year. The watchdog also found that some schools failed to properly register exchange activities, while some trips were reportedly arranged by staff without the schools’ knowledge. Control Yuan members are urging the government to address the shortcomings identified in the investigation.

Cross-Strait Student Exchanges

 

REPORTER:  

Numbers of Taiwanese school-aged children going on exchanges to China have surged, possibly exposing them to united front tactics.

 

The Control Yuan, Taiwan’s government watchdog, says the education ministry failed to enforce rules on contact with China. An investigation found that exchanges have risen most sharply among primary and middle school-aged children, from 38 and 0 students in 2022 to over a thousand each last year. Some schools reportedly failed to properly register exchange activities, with some arranged by staff without the schools’ knowledge. Control Yuan members urged the government to address shortcomings.

 

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Student Exchanges Pose Security Threat

 

REPORTER:  

The Control Yuan said under-regulated student exchanges to China have exploded, exposing students and institutions to united front tactics.

 

While all exchanges have increased, the Control Yuan says middle and elementary school exchanges have been the most drastic, increasing from 38 and 0 students in 2022 to over a thousand each last year. However, these numbers don’t include exchanges arranged by third-party groups, or some arranged privately by staff – sometimes without schools’ or parents' knowledge. The Control Yuan claims government agencies have failed to properly regulate these exchanges in line with President Lai’s instructions to counter national security threats.

 

The Mainland Affairs Council responded, saying that it will work with the Education Ministry to strengthen the reporting platform, and awareness about the CCP and possible united front work.