Gov't Vows To Tightens Oversight of China School Exchanges
Taiwan's government says it will work with schools to better prepare students for the risks associated with exchange trips to China. The Mainland Affairs Council plans to strengthen oversight of school visits and expand education on "united front" activities, or pro-unification propaganda. The move follows an official report that said China is increasingly targeting students from elementary school to university age through exchange programs. The report also found that participation by students and teachers is growing, while some schools have failed to report trips despite requirements to do so.
‘United Front’ Awareness Training
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REPORTER:
Taiwan’s government says it will work with schools to warn about the risks of traveling to China on exchanges.
The Mainland Affairs Council says it will improve oversight of trips and teach students to be aware of “united front” activities, or pro-unification propaganda.
An official report last week said China is increasingly targeting students from elementary schools through to universities for exchange programs and that more and more students and teachers are taking part. But it said schools were often not reporting trips, as they are required to do.
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REPORTER:
Taiwan’s government says it will work with schools to improve students’ awareness of Beijing’s so-called united front operations and the risks of traveling to China.
The government will improve oversight and create a training program focused on China’s united front activities. The program will use social media and other platforms.
That comes a week after a government watchdog said China is increasingly targeting students from elementary schools through to universities for exchange programs. The numbers of Taiwanese students and teachers taking part in such exchanges have surged in the past few years. But very few Chinese students are involved in exchanges in Taiwan.
United front work refers to the Chinese Communist Party’s outreach to build support for its goals, especially cross-strait unification.
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REPORTER:
Taiwan’s government says it will work with schools to teach about the possible risks of traveling to China on exchange.
In response, the Mainland Affairs Council said it aims to teach students the possible dangers of traveling to China, and issues to consider when traveling on cross-strait exchange.
That comes one week after a government watchdog warned that China is increasingly targeting students in larger numbers for exchange, possibly exposing them to united front tactics. The report also claimed that existing safeguards, like trip reporting platforms, were repeatedly underused.
