Educators, political parties, civic groups and ordinary Taiwanese must comply with cross-strait regulations and prioritize national interests, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after the Ministry of Education issued a similar warning over “united front” activities amid reports that groups are seeking people to join low-cost tours to Chinese cities.
Faculty, staff and students at universities must not propagate Chinese propaganda or participate in any “united front” activities, the ministry said in a letter to universities.
Cross-strait exchanges are to expand mutual understanding and communication, and institutes should abide by cross-strait regulations, and uphold dignity and equality, the ministry said.
Photo: Rachel Lin, Taipei Times
While it supports constructive cross-strait exchanges, faculty, staff and students should not participate in any “united front” activities to prevent contravening cross-strait laws, it said.
Students told reporters that groups were advertising trips to China at prices starting as low as NT$18,900 for an eight-day tour, including round-trip airfares, accommodation, meals, insurance and guided activities, with early-bird sign-ups offered free three-day, two-night trips to Hong Kong.
A registration form linked to on the Facebook page of Spring Rain, a non-profit run by the Association of Chinese Elites, invited people to “immerse yourself in the magic of Shanghai and Suzhou, travel through the splendor of the capital, encounter a winter wonderland and stroll through the land of abundance.”
Exchange tours organized by the association have long targeted young Taiwanese, with more than 10,000 students having participated in more than 30 trips, Chinese-language media reported.
Those who arrange their own flights would pay only NT$7,900 to NT$9,900, the form showed.
A “Cross-strait Northern Winter Camp” costs only NT$4,000, excluding airfares, with a 10 percent discount available for bringing a friend, it showed.
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, media reports said.
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 interacting with Chinese students, the reports said.
Students told reporters they worried that they would be “put on a list” if they stated their national identity as the Republic of China or their cross-strait stance as “one China, one Taiwan.”
There was no way to know in advance whether they would encounter Chinese officials, they said, adding that they would have no choice but to cooperate if any “united front” activities took place.
The MAC yesterday urged educators, political parties, civic groups and ordinary Taiwanese to comply with cross-strait regulations and prioritize national interests.
People should refrain from participating in activities organized by China or that support China’s positions, the MAC said, adding that all Taiwanese should stand together to defend the nation’s sovereignty, freedom and democracy.
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