Wu Jung-Chen's Perspective: The Control Yuan Should Not Blur Data to Create Social Doubt and Panic

Recently, Control Yuan members Lin Wen-Cheng and Tian Qiu-Jin released an investigation alleging that China has been using cross-strait student competitions—pre-assigning awards to Taiwanese participants—to attract Taiwanese students to mainland China for united front purposes. The report states that from 2022 to 2026 (Years 111–115), the number of Taiwanese college students visiting China surged from 2,196 to 5,745; high school students rose from 676 to 1,161; middle school students from 0 to 1,021; and elementary students from 38 to 1,045. The number of accompanying teachers also increased from 661 to 1,281.

This report has been widely covered by certain media outlets, which ran headlines such as 'China’s united front starts with children,' criticizing Beijing for using low-cost subsidies and hospitality to lure Taiwanese youth and students, advancing political influence over Taiwan.

However, upon close examination of the report’s Appendix I, 'Data Analysis and Statistics,' the author notes that the categories include only year, educational level (college, high school, middle school, elementary), number of educational exchange events, number of students, and number of accompanying teachers. It does not classify or differentiate the various reasons for Taiwanese students traveling to mainland China—such as family tourism, visiting relatives, parent-child activities, or school-organized exchanges.

The motivations for Taiwanese students visiting China are diverse. They include family trips, visiting relatives, and personal travel, in addition to a smaller portion involving formal educational exchanges arranged by schools or institutions. Therefore, equating a rise in total visitor numbers directly with 'educational exchanges'—and further linking it to 'united front operations'—risks conflating fundamentally different types of travel.

Yet, the Control Yuan members did not first clarify the composition of these statistics. Instead, they inferred China’s united front strategy solely from the overall increase in numbers. This approach risks blurring data and manufacturing social suspicion.

The Control Yuan should be required to clarify:

- What is the source of the data on students traveling to China? - What proportions are due to family tourism, visiting relatives, and school-organized exchanges? - Have the number of officially organized school exchange programs actually increased? - Are there genuine administrative management gaps?

Drawing conclusions about expanded cross-strait educational exchanges and united front activities based solely on rising visitor numbers exceeds the scope supported by the data.

In reality, Taiwanese teachers already face heavy workloads. Since education reforms, teachers at all levels—from universities to elementary schools—bear responsibilities in teaching, research, and student care, while also facing constant risks of complaints and disciplinary hearings. Organizing large-scale cross-border educational activities involves complex administrative procedures, safety liabilities, budgeting, and professional planning—tasks beyond the capacity of most ordinary teachers.

Moreover, with rising cross-strait tensions and the current administration tightening regulations on travel to China, educators are increasingly cautious. Even activities intended for cultural exchange, academic visits, or broadening student perspectives risk being politically interpreted or leading to legal consequences. This has created a 'chilling effect,' leading many educators to reduce or cancel such programs to avoid trouble.

Democratic education systems should be open. Exposure to different cultures and histories helps students develop understanding and independent thinking. A mature democracy should not fear exchange, nor ignore risks. The key lies in transparent systems, sound procedures, and adequate information—not in replacing exchange with fear.

Furthermore, the Control Yuan’s use of the term 'China' to refer to the mainland raises constitutional and institutional questions. The increase in student visits should not become a tool for political confrontation. The Control Yuan must address fundamental questions: How does it define cross-strait relations? What types of visits are increasing? What are the underlying reasons? Is it appropriate to categorize all such visits as part of the mainland’s united front strategy?

The Control Yuan’s value lies not in blurring data to generate social anxiety, but in conducting precise, evidence-based oversight that protects student rights and earns public trust in the oversight system.

*The author is a university professor.