Beijing has extended its “united front” efforts to university campuses in Taiwan by offering students cultural activity opportunities in China, a source said on Sunday, urging the Ministry of Education to enhance scrutiny of such programs.
China has focused its “united front” activities on attracting young Taiwanese to visit China, using key phrases and words that appeal to younger people, such as “influencer,” “movie” and “traveling,” said an official familiar with “united front” efforts, who asked to remain anonymous.
For example, more than 40 young Taiwanese were invited to visit the China’s Xinjiang Normal University to learn about Xinjiang milk tea, choreography and dancing, with the event later advertised by the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily newspaper in a report published last month.
Photo: Lin Hsiao-yun, Taipei Times
The Zhejiang Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office last month launched the “Taizhou Influencer Dream Camp,” offering young Taiwanese programs to obtain certification as self-media professionals for a 2,000 yuan (US$274.53) fee, with food, accommodation and transportation provided by the provincial government.
In Hubei Province, a short film exchange meet-up was held alongside the Golden Flying Swallow cross-strait short film and video competition last month. In Fujian Province, the Cross-Strait Tea Industry Expo and the IM Cross-Strait Youth Film Festival were held last month.
The official said the best version of China would be on display during such “united front” activities to impress and win over young Taiwanese.
China attracts Taiwanese students, especially those on university campuses, with help from Chinese communist-related organizations in Taiwan or through political organizations that promote Chinese activities through universities’ student affairs groups, they said.
Information about visiting China for cultural exchanges would be posted on campus or disseminated through social media, they said, adding that that some teachers aided the “united front” efforts by talking students into visiting China.
The campus political organizations often tout the advantages of working in China and promise young Taiwanese success across the Strait, the official said.
Cultural exchange programs for students to visit China should not be allowed without approval from the Ministry of Education, they said, calling on universities to avoid becoming accessories to “united front” activities.
The ministry is canceling funding to universities whose offices of student affairs cooperate with Chinese political organizations on “united front” efforts, they said.
Young people visiting Xinjiang would only experience the bright side of China, but they should know that tens of thousands of Uighurs in that area have been deprived their freedoms and even their lives, facing human rights abuses under the Chinese government, the official said.
Beijing’s “united front” activities have a political end of annihilating the Republic of China and annexing Taiwan, they said, adding that China could set up re-education camps in Taiwan as it did in Xinjiang.
Young people should carefully consider the risks before visiting China, the official said.
Those who need to visit China are advised to register their destinations and personal information on the Mainland Affairs Council’s online system for tracking Taiwanese travelers to China, Hong Kong and Macau, so that the government can provide timely assistance in case of emergencies, they added.
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