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Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office.

DPP authorities' prohibition of universities on Taiwan island from engaging in exchanges and cooperation with Chinese mainland institutions harms the interests of universities on the island and exposes the DPP's absurd narrow-mindedness and arrogance, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, on Tuesday.

This was in response to a media inquiry regarding a recent move by Taiwan's regional education authorities to add Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and five other mainland universities to the list of institutions banned from academic exchanges — following the previous ban on exchanges with Jinan University and two other mainland universities. "These universities are world-renowned institutions specializing in science and engineering, with research achievements widely applied across various industries," Chen said.

Chen pointed out that the DPP authorities have repeatedly extended their political interference into the educational exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, fully demonstrating their stance of opposing anything related to the mainland and provoking confrontation. Their actions aim solely at obstructing exchanges and damaging cross-Straits relations. In response, members of Taiwan's academic community and young students have strongly condemned these moves.

The mainland's ability to create globally recognized development miracles is inseparable from the significant progress in its education and technology sectors, Chen said. "We are willing to facilitate access to high-quality education on the mainland for young students from Taiwan island. The doors of mainland universities will always remain open to ambitious compatriots from Taiwan," he noted. 

Currently, online registration is underway for the joint admissions exam for overseas Chinese, as well as for students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan island at mainland universities. Chen encouraged young people in Taiwan to actively apply.

Previously, in response to an inquiry about Taiwan regional education authorities banning exchanges and cooperation with universities in Chinese mainland, including Jinan University and Huaqiao University, citing so-called excuses of "protecting young people from being targeted by the united front," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that the claim by DPP authorities is pure nonsense and utterly absurd.

The DPP's actions also sparked criticism from some Taiwan students studying at these universities, who condemned the move as political manipulation that disregards their future prospects.

Global Times