Low-cost tours are aiming to lure Taiwanese university students to China this winter break under the guise of “exchange,” students said today, raising concerns that China is using the trips for surveillance or to further “united front” efforts.
As university students are set to take a long winter break this year, some groups are reportedly recruiting students to join tours visiting Chinese cities for suspiciously low fees.
Prices start at as low as NT$18,900 for an eight-day tour, including round-trip airfare, accommodation, meals, insurance and guided activities, with early-bird sign-ups sometimes throwing in a free three-day, two-night trip to Hong Kong.
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Exchange tours organized by the Association of Chinese Elites have long targeted young Taiwanese, with more than 10,000 students having participated in more than 30 trips.
The trips usually include visits to prestigious universities such as Peking University and Fudan University, company visits, and cultural or nature tours of major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Dunhuang and Harbin.
This year’s “Spring Rain Tour” organized by the association is offering trips to Shanghai, Beijing, Harbin and Chengdu, with tour fees ranging from NT$18,900 to NT$29,900.
Those arranging their own flights pay only NT$7,900 to NT$9,900.
The “Cross-strait Northern Winter Camp” costs only NT$4,000, excluding airfare, with a 10 percent discount available for bringing a friend.
The itineraries are often vague, listing only broad activities such as “cultural lectures,” “youth forums” or “exchange events” for morning, afternoon and evening slots each day.
However, registration forms require detailed personal information, including social media accounts, campus leadership roles, prior visits to China, views on cross-strait relations and experiences of interacting with Chinese students.
Some students questioned whether they would be put on a list if they state their national identity is the Republic of China or their cross-strait stance is "one China, one Taiwan."
There is no way to know in advance if they would have to meet Chinese officials, they said, adding that they would have no choice but to cooperate if any “united front” activities take place.
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