On the 20th, Taiwan's Minister of Education, Cheng Yingyao, stated that Taiwan's universities will be prohibited from cooperating or exchanging with schools affiliated with Beijing's United Front Work Department. In the future, the Ministry of Education will not recognize the degrees from these schools. Currently, there are three known schools: Fujian Huaqiao University, Jinan University in Guangzhou, and Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College. Taiwan will also not recognize degrees from these three universities. It is known that about 2,100 young Taiwanese are currently studying at Huaqiao University and Jinan University.
Jinan University, Guangzhou.
During an event on the morning of the 20th, Cheng Yingyao stated that the mainland has been actively recruiting Taiwanese high school graduates to study there in recent years. Taiwanese students can apply to many universities using their academic ability test scores, with some even offering scholarships or tuition discounts as incentives. While young people should be encouraged to explore the world, academic activities with other political purposes should not be the learning environment we hope to provide for young people.
Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College.
Cheng Yingyao mentioned that schools affiliated with Beijing's United Front Work Department serve special purposes and are not generally considered academic-oriented universities. Halting cooperation is necessary, for example, Fujian Huaqiao University, Jinan University in Guangzhou, and Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College, all currently under the United Front Work Department. Academic research cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan's universities and the aforementioned schools should be prohibited and restricted.
Cheng Yingyao pointed out that the Ministry of Education will inform universities today to prohibit exchanging and cooperating with schools affiliated with Beijing's United Front Work Department, including sister schools. If a school violates the regulations, the Ministry of Education will hold them accountable, such as reducing grants and subsidies. Because these schools mainly target Taiwanese high school students, about 2,100 young Taiwanese are studying at Huaqiao University and Jinan University, which is not what the Ministry of Education wishes to see. The National Education Administration will also promote awareness in high schools and issue notices to principals.
Cheng Yingyao stated that if Taiwanese high school students still wish to attend these schools, it is their autonomy and right. The Ministry of Education primarily regulates the schools themselves.
Cheng Yingyao added that the Ministry of Education will no longer recognize degrees from schools affiliated with Beijing's United Front Work Department in the future. As for students currently studying at these universities since the situation was previously unknown and the laws have not been formally announced, the Ministry of Education will explore whether there are related relief procedures during this transitional period.