China imposes a ban on its students beginning studies at Taiwanese universities in April 2020.
Taiwan/Chinese Taipei is also known as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) in the World Trade Organisation.
Context
In April 2020 mainland China’s Ministry of Education issued a ban on its students from beginning new studies at Taiwanese universities.
Since 2011, mainland Chinese students had been allowed to study for degrees at Taiwanese universities. Taiwanese students remain free to undertake studies at mainland Chinese universities. However, Beijing’s Ministry of Education cited COVID-19 and “[the] current relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait” as reasons for the measure.
Taiwan’s restrictions on the return of mainland students to complete their studies in Taiwan during COVID appear to have been a contributing factor. Furthermore, the Chinese government has historically protested the discriminatory treatment of mainland students by Taiwanese local governments. These restrictions often include the rights to work, to study certain majors such as medicine and law, to receive scholarships, and to access local medical security systems. This is referred to within Taiwan as the ‘Three Restrictions and Six Prohibitions Policy‘.
The measure implemented by China’s Ministry of Education has outlasted the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore it should primarily be viewed in the broader context of deteriorating people-to-people ties between China and Taiwan. International media have also framed the measure as “punishment” for the re-election of Taiwan’s pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen.
Impact
Data shows that by 2016 41,975 mainland Chinese students were studying degrees or short courses at Taiwanese institutions. By 2023, this number had been reduced to around 80 students – those who had begun their studies prior to the 2020 ban. The Straits Times produced a useful graph showing numbers of mainland Chinese students studying in Taiwan from 2011-22, citing data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and the National Immigration Agency (see below).
However, other reporting shows that in 2019 the number of mainland Chinese students was already down to 25,049 – suggesting that this issue may have already been impacted by deteriorating cross-strait relations prior to the 2020 ban – including allegations of discrimination against mainland Chinese students in Taiwanese society.
Responses
i) Taiwanese Industry
Mainland Chinese media claimed a major impact of this measure due to loss of tuition fees – reporting in one example case that “Chinese Culture University in Taiwan had to respond to the impact by reducing its overall budget, downsizing its mainland student service group and transferring staff to other departments.” Prior to this incident, a number of Taiwanese universities had reportedly issued pro-Beijing statements, partly out of a desire for mainland students.
ii) Taiwanese Government
The Taiwanese government has responded by “repeatedly” calling on the mainland government to reverse the measure. Taiwanese government legislators have also rejected claims by Beijing that the (ruling) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is responsible for the lack of mainland students.
Status
This situation is ongoing, without signs of resolution.
References & Further Information
Central Government of the People’s Republic of China. 2015. ‘The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council requests Taiwan’s local government to withdraw unreasonable restrictions on students from mainland China as soon as possible’ [国台办希望台方尽快取消对陆生不合理限制]. June 10. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2015-06/10/content_2877090.htm
Executive Yuan of Taiwan. 2008. ‘The government will adopt the ‘three restrictions and six prohibitions’ policy to govern students from mainland China’ [开放陆生来台就读, 放宽大陆学历采认, 政府采“三限六不”政策, 审慎推动] December 4. Available at: https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/9277F759E41CCD91/f7cbb05a-c1b0-4e6e-90e4-4ba661307418#:~:text=%E8%A1%8C%E6%94%BF%E9%99%A2%E6%8C%87%E5%87%BA%EF%BC%8C%E6%89%80%E8%AC%82%E3%80%8C%E4%B8%89,%E9%99%90%E5%88%B6%E9%86%AB%E4%BA%8B%E5%AD%B8%E6%AD%B7%E6%8E%A1%E8%AA%8D%E3%80%8D%E3%80%82
Haime, J. 2023. “Why Chinese students are an increasingly rare sight in Taiwan.” Al Jazeera. March 14. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/14/why-chinese-students-are-disappearing-from-taiwan
Jennings, R. 2017. “Universities, Taiwan Government at Odds Over Chinese Students.” VOA. March 15. Available at: https://www.voanews.com/a/universities-taiwan-governments-at-odds-chinese-students/3766555.html
Lin, X, and Huang, L. 2021. “Taiwan colleges suffer drop in enrollment as students head for mainland.” Global Times. April 2. Available at: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/ 202104/1220110.shtml
Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2020. “教育部：暂停2020年陆生赴台就读试点工作”April 9. Available at: http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/gzdt_gzdt/s5987/202004/ t20200409_441791.html
Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2020. ‘Notice on suspending the program for mainland students to study in Taiwan in 2020’ [暂停2020年陆生赴台就读试点工作]. April 9. Available at: https://hudong.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/xw_zt/moe_357/jyzt_2020n/2020_zt03/zydt/zydt_jyb/202004/t20200409_441791.html.
Sheng, Y. 2020. “MOE suspends Taiwan education programs for mainland students.” Global Times. April 9. Available at: https://www.globaltimes.cn/ page/202004/1185197.shtml
Taiwan Network of China. 2020. ‘Mainland China suspended the program for mainland students to study in Taiwan in 2020; Taiwan’s local government should stop pretending to protect students’ rights’ [大陆暂停2020年陆生赴台就读试点, 台当局别假惺惺要维护“学生权益”了]. April 10. Available at: http://www.taiwan.cn/plzhx/plyzl/202004/t20200410_12264155.htm.
Taiwan News. 2024. “Chinese students are consistently welcomed: MAC.” Taipei Times. January 15. Available at: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/ 2024/01/15/2003812120
TVBS News. 2024. “Taiwan rebuffs China’s travel ban blame, cites openness.” TVBS News. May 22. Available at: https://news.tvbs.com.tw/english/2494239
Yee, Y.W. 2023. “No mainland Chinese undergraduates in Taiwan for new school year amid cross-strait tensions.” The Straits Times. July 12. Available at: https:// http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/no-mainland-chinese-undergraduates-in-taiwan-for-new-school-year-amid-cross-strait-tensions