TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China is reportedly expanding its United Front efforts to Taiwan’s college campuses, targeting Taiwanese youth with offers to visit Xinjiang in an attempt to counter reports of human rights abuses in the region.
Beijing has intensified its outreach to young Taiwanese through initiatives such as “Influencer Dream Camps,” “Drinking Milk Tea in Xinjiang,” and “tea expos,” aiming to lure participants with promises of cultural exchange and professional opportunities. An official familiar with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) United Front tactics told Liberty Times that certain “political scam groups” in Taiwan assist Beijing in recruiting students, using college campuses as the primary channel.
Recent reports reveal that the CCP continues to invite Taiwanese youth to Xinjiang through programs like the second phase of the “Discover Xinjiang: Exploring the Secret Silk Road – Taiwanese Youth Xinjiang Tour.” This program brought over 40 Taiwanese participants to Xinjiang Normal University, where they engaged in activities such as traditional milk tea making, calligraphy, and cultural performances. Events like these are subsequently publicized through outlets like People’s Daily.
In November, Taiwan-related entities in Zhejiang launched the “Taizhou Influencer Dream Camp,” a media training program requiring a 2,000 Chinese yuan registration fee, with China covering meals, lodging, and transportation. Similar events include Hubei’s “Golden Flying Swallow” cross-strait short film competition and Fujian’s “Cross-Strait Tea Industry Expo” and “Cross-Strait Youth Film Festival,” all aimed at attracting young Taiwanese participants.
According to the official, the CCP focuses on enticing Taiwanese youth with promises of influencer opportunities, filmmaking, and tourism. Some initiatives even offer paid trips to Xinjiang, supposedly oriented around milk tea, under the guise of cultural exchange. However, these efforts are designed to showcase only the most favorable aspects of China while obscuring its political agenda.
The official referred to certain Taiwanese civic organizations that aid CCP efforts as “political scam groups.” These groups allegedly exaggerate opportunities in China, employing a “bait and switch” strategy to lure participants. Recruitment is carried out through campus networks, with civic groups disseminating promotional materials via student affairs offices and online platforms, while some teachers also reportedly encourage students to participate.
The official emphasized that all university recruitment and exchange programs must be approved by the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities. Schools must avoid becoming accomplices to these “political scam groups,” the official warned. Universities found collaborating with such groups could face penalties, including subsidy cuts or increased government scrutiny.
The CCP’s United Front activities are driven by clear political motives, aiming to weaken Taiwan’s government and pave the way for annexation, said the official. Participants in Xinjiang tours will only encounter a carefully curated facade, while the realities of Uyghur oppression, including genocide and re-education camps, remain hidden.
The official cautioned that if Taiwanese youth contribute to CCP unification efforts, similar “re-education camps” could be established for Taiwanese in the future. Young people should carefully assess the risks of traveling to China and avoid falling for the rhetoric of political scam groups, adding that the country’s economy is in a very bad state and dissatisfaction may be reaching a boiling point.
Finally, the source advised those who choose to visit China to register their travel plans through Taiwan’s “Online Registration System for Taiwanese Citizens Visiting Mainland China” to ensure government assistance in case of emergency.