TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council will expand education on China-related risks as more Taiwanese students take part in exchanges there, CNA reported Monday.
The Control Yuan said the number of Taiwanese students joining education programs in China has risen sharply since pandemic restrictions eased in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese students taking part in activities in Taiwan supported by the council has continued to fall.
The number of university and college students in Taiwan traveling to China for exchanges rose from 2,196 in 2022 to 5,745 in 2025. Participation among high school and vocational school students increased from 676 to 1,161 during the same period.
Growth was especially sharp among younger students. Junior high school participation rose from zero in 2022 to 1,021 in 2025, while elementary school participation increased from 38 to 1,045.
The number of teachers accompanying students also increased from 661 to 1,281. By comparison, the number of Chinese students taking part in MAC-supported activities in Taiwan fell from 76 to 16.
The Control Yuan said Chinese authorities have used research programs, talent competitions, and other activities to attract Taiwanese students. It said the Chinese Communist Party has long viewed Taiwan’s youth as an important target for political influence and has expanded outreach from university students to younger age groups.
UDN reported that the investigation also found major gaps in how schools report student travel to China. Although the education ministry introduced an online registration platform in 2019, many schools did not fully report exchange activities.
In some cases, teachers privately recruited students for trips to China without informing school administrators. Parents sometimes believed the trips were organized by schools even when administrators were unaware of them.
The Control Yuan approved the investigation report on July 21 and asked the Mainland Affairs Council and the education ministry to review their policies. It called for stronger oversight of uneven exchanges, incomplete reporting, and weaknesses in existing rules.
The Mainland Affairs Council said it will work with the education ministry to improve the registration system and inform schools about travel risks in China. Officials will also use social media, press conferences, and student events to explain risks linked to cross-strait exchanges, RTI reported.
The council said it is also working with university general education centers and academic groups to help students better understand China and recognize Chinese Communist Party influence efforts. The effort is intended to support normal and orderly educational exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
The council will also investigate cases in which civic groups recruit students for activities in China that may violate regulations. Suspected violations will be referred to the responsible authorities or reviewed jointly by relevant government agencies.
