Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong says that the council will make special allowances for Chinese students who want to return to Taiwan for their studies. The Mainland Affairs Council is the government’s top China-policymaking body.
Chen’s remarks came Thursday amidst KMT opposition to the council’s decision to allow foreign students back to Taiwan. The plan excludes students who are Chinese nationals.
Taiwan closed its borders to foreigners in March, but is gradually relaxing restrictions for some international students to return. On Wednesday, the education ministry notified all universities that the entry ban on international students enrolled in Taiwan’s schools has been lifted.
Chen said that the announcement’s exclusion of Chinese students does not mean that they will be barred from coming to Taiwan indefinitely. Chen said a delay is necessary because the education ministry had not considered the current COVID-19 situation in Taiwan.
“We didn’t think it was appropriate, letting some 10,000 people return all at once,” Chen said.