China’s Recruitment of Taiwanese Academics for Research and Technology Leadership
China is actively recruiting young Taiwanese academics to foster “academic integration with Taiwan” and lead in research and technology, according to a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). The report, titled “On Taiwanese Citizens Teaching in China in Recent Years,” highlights changes in Taiwan’s higher-education landscape, with more Taiwanese taking teaching positions in China.
Particularly in Fujian Province, the Chinese government has offered subsidies for full-time higher-education teachers from Taiwan since 2015, extending this policy through 2021 and beyond. These educators often engage in research related to academic development, industrial growth, technology, and national security. The report suggests Taiwan should implement comprehensive laws to protect national interests by regulating professionals with critical expertise who take up teaching roles in China.
Despite Taiwan’s talented higher education sector, many Taiwanese doctoral graduates teach in China due to limited local opportunities and higher salaries, according to National Cheng Kung University political science professor Hung Ching-fu. The report notes that these graduates, educated in Taiwan, China, or abroad, often remain in China due to these factors.
This trend has significant implications for peaceful unification strategies and cross-Strait economic and political exchanges. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rise to power, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has coordinated with universities to recruit young Taiwanese academics, aiming to “serve the motherland” and leverage their professional networks in Taiwan.
With the US-China technology war complicating Chinese students’ studies in the US, Beijing is increasingly recruiting Taiwanese talent in science, engineering, and postdoctoral research to advance technology development.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwanese Academics -: These are teachers and researchers from Taiwan, which is an island near China. They work in universities and colleges, teaching students and doing research.
Fujian Province -: Fujian is a province in China, located on the southeastern coast, close to Taiwan. It’s known for its cultural and economic ties with Taiwan.
Subsidies -: Subsidies are financial help given by the government to support people or businesses. In this context, China is offering money to Taiwanese academics to work there.
Cross-Strait relations -: This refers to the relationship between China and Taiwan. The Taiwan Strait is the body of water that separates them.
Mainland Affairs Council -: This is a government agency in Taiwan that deals with issues related to China. They monitor and report on activities between Taiwan and China.
