Education Minister Pan Wen-chung says that cross-strait academic exchanges are still going well despite a recent drop in recruitment of Mainland Chinese students.
The latest statistics show that there are 331 fewer Mainland Chinese students coming to Taiwan for undergraduate studies this year as compared to last year. Pan on Monday reported to the legislature on the drop in numbers, saying that cross-strait academic exchanges are still going well, and that fluctuations are to be expected.
“There is an increase in the number of [Mainland Chinese] students who will enroll in [our] doctoral programs and other two-year programs. However, the number for post-graduate programs and four-year undergraduate studies has dwindled. The total number of students has dropped by over 200, or roughly 6%. It is a minor decrease compared to that of 2015," said Pan, "Cross-strait educational exchanges have been ongoing, so [we can expect] some fluctuation in recruitment numbers in different programs. The agencies in charge of recruitment on both sides of the strait are in constant communication about the issue.”
Pan has also dismissed the suggestion that rising cross-strait tension caused by a missile misfire two weeks ago had discouraged Chinese students from studying in Taiwan. He said academic exchanges are based on long-term communication and have nothing to do with politics.