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.

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GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITIES SUPPORT STUDENT EXCHANGE
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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.

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SO FAR, ONLY A TRICKLE OF PRC STUDENTS IN TAIWAN
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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.

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MAINLAND STUDENTS GIVE THUMBS UP TO TAIWAN EXPERIENCE
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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."

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COMMENT: EXCHANGES START SLOW, BUT HAVE PROMISE
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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