This is a translation of the original 【校園統戰團系列報導2】吃飯三句不離「兩岸一家親」，行程滿滿統戰惡意 by Liao,Yu-Han (廖昱涵). Originally published by Watchout. Translation by Stacy Tang and edited by Chieh-Ting Yeh.
For students who are “stubborn supporters of Taiwan independence,” how do they perceive their experiences in China from their exchange group trips? A student, Su, notes that mealtime conversations often include phrases like “Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family,” and “same language, same race; blood is thicker than water,” which reveal United Front intentions if one is discerning enough.
Chen Youwei, head of the Taiwan Economic Democracy Union and a student at Fu Jen Catholic University, is someone Beijing would unequivocally label a “stubborn supporter of Taiwanese independence.” He recalls, during one of the trips, students were taken to the “Tree of the Descendants of the Chinese Emperors Yan and Huang,” with some even required to bow to the tree. Such peculiar itineraries have sparked questions among initially pro-China participants, who found the “homeland” starkly different from their expectations. Those who lean towards Taiwanese sovereignty perceive China’s actions as even more absurd.
Taiwan and China’s commonality: spending money
On both occasions when he traveled to China before the COVID-19 outbreak, Chen was approached because of his influential role in the student community. The organizers of the initial group specifically targeted student councils, recruiting participants who held positions such as president, speaker, or minister.
However, he also noted that the majority of participants in that group were actually pro-Taiwan, and the organizers likely knew their stance. Reflecting on this seemingly contradictory situation, he wittily commented, “It’s as if both sides are striving to meet their KIPs. How we are similar in this regard really embodies the notion of ‘both sides of the are one family.’”
Chen recalls that during a banquet, Chinese officials talked to him and acknowledged “actually we all know you are naturally pro-independence.” Despite continuing to chant slogans like “cross-strait prosperity” and “returning to the motherland,” Chen believes that Chinese officials are well aware that mere words won’t bring about any real change. Instead, they emphasize the importance of “persisting in and continuing communication.” To him, it seems the attitude is more “since the budget is available, let’s just go ahead to spend it.”
“Everyone is just putting on a show. In fact, some of them don’t even believe unification is possible,” Chen remarked. Typically, once the media leaves, Chinese officials start dodging political discussions and prefer to avoid such topics during private conversations.
Less than a year later, Chen was invited for another exchange group trip. One of the scheduled visits was to Hikvision Digital Technology, a company frequently implicated in cybersecurity concerns. Thankfully, he remained vigilant and opted to obtain a physical visitor pass instead of using facial recognition. He also noticed that every office had a room with a small Chinese Communist Party flag, indicating it was a “party branch.” He compared it to “having a statue of Guan Yu (a deity) in a police station!” It is said that these offices are usually vacant unless there’s a problem.
“The Tree of the Descendants of the Emperor Yan and Huang”
Reflecting on his experiences with United Front tactics during the trips to China, Chen was most struck by his time in Shanxi Province. The area is renowned for its rich historical relics, with legends dating back to the Yan and Huang Emperors, the mythical leaders who are touted as the origins of the “Chinese race.” Chen said that while these archaeological sites are positioned as top-tier national historical and cultural attractions in China, in reality they are not authentic ancient relics; rather, they are simply manmade and placed in those locations.
According to Chen, Shanxi is a stronghold for United Front efforts aimed at Taiwan. In addition to guided tours, there are “ancestral worship ceremonies” where participants are required to bow to the “ancient tree of the descendants of Yan and Huang Emperors.” He noted that many found this itinerary exceptionally odd, with even pro-China participants feeling perplexed. Stepping into this imagined “homeland,” they found it significantly different from their expectations. For those with inclinations toward Taiwanese sovereignty, the experience only reinforced their perception of China’s absurdity.
Visit China, “why not?”
Su, the college student, observed that China exchange activities are indeed popular among students. For students who are pro-Taiwan, even though they haven’t thought much about visiting China, the explosion of opportunities in recent years have made it more attractive for them. After years of “resisting China and safeguarding Taiwan,” many students now think it’s time to see what China is truly like. Consequently, they become the most anticipated post-pandemic “first-time visitors” to China.
Su observed that the majority of participants thought it is just a “go out and have fun” kind of trip, while a few were influenced by the “United Front model” and aspired to launch businesses under the support of the Taiwan Affairs Office. He categorized the trip into three segments: official visits, university exchanges, and sightseeing. Shifting the conversation, he remarked, “The trip is filled with malicious political intentions, and whether one can tell depends on one’s political sensitivity.”
Su described how during mealtime conversations, two out of three sentences would be phrases like “both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family,” with the remaining one sentence being “same language, same race; blood is thicker than water.” He said that the Chinese side was quite straightforward about their messaging. He explained that the organizer of this group was one of the Chinese “democratic political parties with unique Chinese characteristics,” and their mission was to “promote the great reunification of the motherland.” The whole group was essentially there to be “brainwashed.”
However, Su also lamented that the majority of group members remained indifferent to what he interpreted as political malice, thinking their trip to China was merely about enjoying food, drink, and entertainment. He recalled a statement from an official at the Taiwan Affairs Office in Chongqing: “The lessons from Ukraine are clear. We urge you not to harbor illusions about Taiwan independence. Stubborn advocates of Taiwan independence will surely meet their demise.”
Avoiding becoming United Front’s model from Taiwan
In the face of such a provocative statement, Su noted that aside from a handful of individuals leaning towards pro-China sentiments who felt deeply unhappy, the majority either remained indifferent or were nodding off.
Su expressed that although these activities were defined as exchange groups, there was a clear practice of “group in, group out.” Besides safety concerns, Su sensed deliberate attempts to keep the entire group isolated from local Chinese people. He highlighted that typically, it was members from the Communist Youth League, school party committees, and similar levels who received them. Therefore, considering these encounters as representative of the average Chinese would be an incorrect perception.
“I have taken some precautionary measures to avoid becoming used as an example by the United Front,” Su mentioned. Even though he went to China, Su acted relatively cautiously. He believes that given the current cross-strait tensions, and considering the geopolitical dynamics among the US, China, and Taiwan, young Taiwanese, especially those in sensitive high-tech industries, could easily attract controversy if they visit China. “So, whether it’s interviews or photo exposure, I tend to keep a low profile.”
Su admitted, “To be honest, if it weren’t for the group trip, I wouldn’t dare go alone!” He suggested that if the activities were organized by the provincial or municipal authorities, serious consideration may be necessary, as Chinese officials might prioritize making a visitor a political example for their own career prospects.
Therefore, given China’s increasingly hostile attitude towards Taiwan, unless the organizer holds significant influence or the level is high enough, families would have reservations about their members visiting China. After all, China is a place where even making a reference to the “White Paper Movement” could get one into serious trouble.
(Photo by Cexin Ding on Unsplash)
