DPP condemned for barring academic exchange programs

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday condemned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for banning academic exchanges and cooperation with mainland universities, citing excuses of "protecting young people from being targeted by the united front".

"The claim was nonsense and utterly absurd," Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference in Beijing. She added that the move deprives students of their educational rights and serves the DPP's separatist agenda.

The island's education authority announced last week that cooperation or exchanges with universities affiliated with the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee will be prohibited. Additionally, Taiwan high schools are forbidden from encouraging or assisting students in pursuing studies at these institutions.

According to Taiwan media report, degrees earned from three mainland universities — Huaqiao University in Xiamen, Fujian province, Jinan University in Guangdong province and Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College — will no longer be recognized in Taiwan. There are currently over 2,000 Taiwan students studying at the universities.

Zhu said that both Huaqiao University and Jinan University are renowned universities on the mainland that have nurtured numerous outstanding students over the years, including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and have made significant contributions to strengthening connections between the mainland and these regions.

She welcomed Taiwan students to participate in admissions examinations for the two universities, encouraging them to enroll in mainland universities.

"The united front work is about bringing people together, fostering consensus, gathering wisdom and building strength," Zhu said.

Eric Chu Li-luan, chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang, recently criticized the DPP for engaging in confrontational actions. He expressed hope for normal academic student exchanges to occur between Taiwan and the mainland.

Zhu also condemned Chiu Chui-cheng, head of the island's "mainland affairs council", for his recent statement about amending Taiwan's regulations to warn Taiwan residents of the risks involved in applying for various documents, including residence permits, on the mainland.

"The purpose is to threaten and intimidate the people of Taiwan, disrupting and undermining the interactions and exchanges between people on both sides of the Strait," Zhu said, which would pose a serious challenge to cross-Strait relations.

In response to recent reports that a number of individuals, including Taiwan actor Darren Wang, may face criminal liability for allegedly evading military service in Taiwan, Zhu didn't comment on individual cases, but said the DPP authorities are bound to face opposition from the public.

Zhu said it is worth pondering the fact that the DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to "Taiwan independence", and have purchased a large number of so-called advanced weapons to incite confrontation across the Strait.

"They attempt to turn Taiwan into a 'powder keg', which only turns Taiwan residents into cannon fodder," she added.