In an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) on Wednesday said that international exchanges are a positive experience for students.
However, he did not encourage attending exchange programs in China.
“I don’t encourage elementary school, high school or even university-level students to only consider China for international exchanges,” he said.
As expected, pro-unification academics were furious, accusing Cheng of damaging and undermining cross-strait exchanges.
However, the public is aware that nearly all exchanges with China are viewed with suspicion, often seen as components of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) broader “united front” strategy. At the same time, the Chinese military continues to conduct military drills around Taiwan.
Is there another country that behaves so brazenly? How can any meaningful exchange occur between Taiwan and China under these circumstances?
Imagine you were to open a small shop, but shortly afterward, a thug turns up brandishing weapons and falsely claiming that your shop belongs to him.
One would hardly engage in cultural exchanges with the thug.
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) took office, China has engaged in nonstop verbal and military intimidation of Taiwan. Only a delusional political party would support exchanges with the CCP. Even tourism to China is entirely unnecessary — why should Taiwanese spend their money in a country that is openly hostile toward them? Why should they help its domestic market?
Mutual respect, equality and reciprocity are foundational principles for all people and nations. The CCP has been vulgar and arrogant, and only fools would still be keen on exchanges with them.
Cheng should stand firm in arguing for what is right.
Teng Hon-yuan is an associate professor at Aletheia University.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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