FLOW OF CHINA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO TAIWAN STARTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001293 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL EDU PINR KPAO TW CH SUBJECT: FLOW OF CHINA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO TAIWAN STARTS OFF AS A TRICKLE REF: TAIPEI 1266 Classified By: Deputy Director Madison. Reasons: 1.4 b/d ¶1. (U) This is the second of two reports on the political implications of people-to-people cross-Strait exchanges. This cable looks at Chinese students coming to Taiwan. Reftel examined the influx of mainland Chinese tourists. ¶2. (C) Summary: Cross-Strait educational exchanges have developed much more slowly than tourism. While opening up Taiwan to mainland tourism elicits little opposition here, there are concerns a deluge of Chinese students could, among other things, crowd out Taiwan students from local universities and the local job market. Even if the Legislative Yuan passed legislation introduced last year permitting degree studies by Chinese at Taiwan universities, the government's implementation plan would severely limit the inflow. Still, the first wave of mainland Chinese students speak glowingly of their experience here, suggesting educational exchanges ultimately can play an important role in promoting better cross-Strait ties. End summary. -------------- -------------- GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITIES SUPPORT STUDENT EXCHANGE -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Student exchanges are one component of President Ma Ying-jeou's opening to mainland China. Taiwan authorities believe that people-to-people exchanges, such as tourism and education, will help the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and transmit back to China the benefits of Taiwan-style democracy and freedom. Government officials and educators also believe that attracting some of China's top students will make Taiwan universities more competitive globally. Indeed, the Department of Education notes that the competition for mainland students is intense worldwide and that the majority of foreign students in Japan and South Korea already come from China. Finally, Taiwan educators argue that many of their graduates do business in China and the opportunity to connect with mainland students while at university will provide important networking opportunities. Many Taiwan universities, especially private schools, are delighted at the prospect of tuition-paying mainland students. Taiwan has an overcapacity of university seats, and allowing PRC students to study here would help solve the problem. -------------- -------------- SO FAR, ONLY A TRICKLE OF PRC STUDENTS IN TAIWAN -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Currently, however, Taiwan only allows mainland exchange students to stay for up to one academic year. While there are no limits on the number who study for one semester, no more than 1,000 a year can come for two semesters. Slightly more than 2,000 mainland students were in Taiwan in 2009, up from nearly 1,300 in 2008 and just 800 the year before. They are spread out among several schools, with I-Shou University in Kaohsiung leading the way with a few hundred, according to the Ministry of Education. ¶5. (C) Mainland students are not yet allowed to earn degrees from Taiwan universities. Ma administration-backed proposals to lift restrictions on degree studies went to the Legislative Yuan late last year, but have yet to be considered. Liao Kaohsien, a section chief at the Ministry of Education's Department of Higher Education, said the legislation was proving to be a big political issue because of its implications for cross-Strait ties. Lin Yu-fang, a lawmaker for the ruling Kuomintang, cited widespread fears that Chinese who come here to study would take jobs away from Taiwan people. He said another concern was that recognizing Chinese medical degrees would lead to mainland-trained Taiwan students competing against locally trained doctors. ¶6. (C) To allay concerns about possible adverse effects on Taiwan society of an influx of Chinese students and of recognition of mainland diplomas, the Ministry has proposed a "three restrictions and six nos" policy to ensure only a gradual and limited opening of educational exchanges. Under the three restrictions, only diplomas from the mainland's leading universities would be recognized; the total number of Chinese degree students would not exceed 1 percent of the total university enrollment on Taiwan (roughly 1,000 to 2,000 new students each year); and Taiwan would not recognize mainland medical degrees. The six nos would forbid mainland students from receiving scholarships, from working while a student, from remaining in Taiwan upon completion of studies, TAIPEI 00001293 002 OF 002 from taking the Taiwan public service examination, and from receiving preferential treatment on entrance exams or other enrollment requirements. Universities would not be allowed to reduce their admittance of Taiwan students to make way for mainland applicants. -------------- -------------- MAINLAND STUDENTS GIVE THUMBS UP TO TAIWAN EXPERIENCE -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) PolOff in recent weeks spoke with a handful of mainland exchange students at Shih Chien University and Chinese Culture University, both on the outskirts of Taipei. The students arrived in September, and although some said they were nervous at first, to a person they insisted they were having a great time. The students said they were motivated to study in Taiwan by a sense of adventure and a vague belief that the experience would boost job prospects back home. Some had Taiwan roommates, with whom they shared delicacies brought from home such as bite-sized pieces of spicy Hunan duck individually wrapped in foil a la gumdrops. Many expressed particular enthusiasm for participating in extracurricular activities such as camping that were less prevalent at Chinese universities. When asked to name the major differences between Taiwan and China, most shied away from overtly political responses. "When I first got here I thought there were too many places to go shopping!" said Jennifer Zhang, an international trade graduate student from Nankai University in Tianjin. Hu Dike, an environmental design student from Fujian, said he was struck by Taiwan's strong sense of environmental protection, which he associated with recycling and strong penalties against smoking in public places. ¶8. (C) Unlike mainland tourists in Taiwan, the students did not appear obsessed by local television talk shows in which anyone from President Ma on down can be the object of panelists' wrath. When they did discuss Taiwan politics, their impressions were decidedly mixed. "I was surprised that only a few people here think that Taiwan and China should unify," said Claris Li, an exchange student from Wuhan who followed her government's policy and strongly rejected that view. Others acknowledged Taiwan had a relatively open society with a media that reflected many points of view, but they also noted -- a bit defensively -- that the internet provided an outlet for a variety of opinions in China. When asked how he would describe his Taiwan experience when he returned to China, Hector Wang said he would give a speech to his classmates in Fujian highlighting the friendliness, vitality and diverse thinking here. Jing Ling, an exchange student from Wuhan, said he would tell classmates that Taiwan was more democratic than China. "I just want to tell people the truth," he said. "I think China should change to a democratic society, but slowly." -------------- -- COMMENT: EXCHANGES START SLOW, BUT HAVE PROMISE -------------- -- ¶9. (C) Prospects for a rapid escalation of cross-Strait education are not great. KMT lawmaker Lin said that because of upcoming local elections, the Legislative Yuan would not soon consider legislation to allow degree studies by mainland Chinese and to recognize some Chinese university diplomas. Given that cross-Strait ties are developing rapidly on many other fronts -- PRC tourist arrivals are way up, memoranda of understanding to relax cross-Strait financial restrictions are expected soon, and both sides plan to conclude an initial Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement early next year -- a gradual expansion of educational ties makes sense. Nonetheless, one thing is clear from the first wave of mainland exchange students: As the doors to Taiwan universities open wider, Chinese students will rush on in. STANTON