This is a translation of the original【校園統戰團系列報導3】中國計畫性滲透臺灣校園！馬英九訪中團已 3 人成為學生會長！by Liao,Yu-Han (廖昱涵). Originally published by Watchout. Translation by Stacy Tang and edited by Chieh-Ting Yeh.
The debate over whether visits to China are truly an “exchange” or “United Front activities” may remain unsolvable, but regardless of political stance or ideology, the consensus among all participants seems to be the high-level hospitality provided by Chinese United Front groups. An individual interviewed under the pseudonym “Fish Eats Cat” frankly admitted, “During our student days, we were financially strapped, so we relied on the exchange groups to China if we wanted to travel.” He also mentioned that perks offered by the Chinese official didn’t matter much to anyone. He added, “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is so wealthy. If they don’t give it to me, they will give it to someone else anyway. I may as well make use of it.” Despite the good treatment, there are various restrictions and tricks (mê-kak) that we must be aware of. “Far Ahead,” pointed out the organizers instructed participants not to wear Winnie the Pooh socks and not to comment about politics. Additionally, “T” was warned by the Chinese exchange group facilitator to “speak less in public.”
Enticing United Front itineraries: fully complimentary, five-star accommodations, luxury cruises travel
Information regarding trips to China is widespread on university online forums, with these excursions advertised as ultra-low-cost or even entirely free, making them a popular option for student travels. “Far Ahead” explained that many people seize this opportunity to travel, some even making it a graduation trip.
Experienced university student “R,” who has been visiting China since fifth grade, through high school, and into university, when asked why he has gone so many times, promptly replied, “For fun!” The entire trip is almost free, and spending a week only requires about $5000 to buy souvenirs. Master’s student “T” believes, “In reality, when you go, you understand what it’s all about, but you don’t think you’ll be swayed by United Front tactics, so you go and use up their budget.”
How luxurious and affordable are these itineraries? “Watchout,” observed that a 10-day, 9-night trip can be secured for as little as NT$12,000 in group fees, not to mention many completely free tours. As to the itinerary, interviewees shared experiences filled with enjoyment: indulging in whole roasted lamb in Inner Mongolia, savoring Peking duck in Beijing, and feasting on banquet-style meals featuring a minimum of 10 dishes, all while staying in four or five-star accommodations.
“T” shared that a significant portion of the travel schedule included visits to numerous landmarks in history textbooks, such as the Yellow Crane Tower. What impressed him the most was boarding an ultra-luxurious cruise ship on the Yangtze River, valued at 500 RMB per trip, equivalent to about 2000 NT dollars, the extravagance of which astonished him. “Far Ahead” mentioned that while purchasing souvenirs at the airport before departing, he was startled to discover that the libation served during the trip was worth several thousand NT dollars, a price he couldn’t afford himself. He joked, “I should have just pocketed it at the time.”
Winnie the Pooh and June Fourth (the Tiananmen Square incident) are taboos
Concerning China, the organizers also provide specific reminders to participants before the trip: some actions may be acceptable, but there are limits, and one must protect oneself. “Far Ahead” noted that the organizers instructed group members not to wear Winnie the Pooh socks and suggested discussing sensitive political events in China only in private.
“Far Ahead” actually sought to interact with Chinese students during his trip. Privately, he discussed the “Tiananmen Square incident” with his Chinese roommates, only to find out their perspectives were vastly different. They viewed it as an extension of student activism, believing that the Chinese government had engaged in dialogue with the students, and they were unaware of the subsequent crackdown. Nonetheless, “Far Ahead” refrained from correcting their misconception, joking that “I prefer not to dance around the red line.” Particularly since at the schools he visited there were many descendants of “CCP’s princelings,” who hold strong national consciousness and patriotism. He also sensed their unwavering confidence in the Communist Party, unlike Taiwanese who are more critical of political parties.
“Far Ahead” also expressed frustration that during photo sessions, they would hold up a big red banner stating “OOXX Exchange Group to Mainland,” but later it would suddenly change to “Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Are One Family.” Many group members failed to notice this switch and ended up unknowingly becoming a subject manipulated by China. However, some members with pro-China inclinations demonstrated sharp sensitivity; they would disappear promptly once detecting any discrepancies, a behavior he found incredible.
“T” shared that his Chinese roommates also advised him to “just watch CCTV news casually; it’s the CCP’s curated information.” He mentioned even the duration of news broadcasts was meticulously designed. “T” also attempted to delve into some topics related to the history of the CCP and Kuomintang with the Chinese group trip facilitators, who were graduate students in China. However, they appeared reluctant to talk much and politely cautioned him, “speak less in public.”
Disguised as “exchange” and “competition,” the underlying goal is to promote the message: “Welcome to come and live in China.”
“R” initially didn’t perceive any issue with the United Front. The details were unclear when R signed up for the trips, only becoming clear upon arrival when R was instructed on the next steps, making him realize he had been “tricked into going.” He once participated in a purported “Sinology Vlog Photography Competition” exchange group, but, in reality, there was no actual filming or any results; it was all just a cover story.
“R” said that the primary agenda of this Sinology camp was to tour Pingtan, a city completely replicated after Taiwan and claiming to possess all that Taiwan offers. They were encouraged to relocate and settle here. Furthermore, he noted that numerous items in the area would be branded with the label of Taiwan, such as “Taiwanese chicken cutlet” and “Taiwanese sausage,” but their flavors seemed peculiar, leaving a deep impression on him.
“T” noticed that there is less propaganda targeting Taiwanese in the more inland parts of China, whereas there are many obvious slogans near the borders in Hong Kong and Macau, such as “Realize Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.” In Wuhan, located inland, the slogans become more neutral, such as “Green waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver.” He said that these are all policies emphasized by Chinese President Xi Jinping, but in coastal areas, they would emphasize “the Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation” and “the Chinese dream of prosperity and strength, with all poverty alleviated.”
R, who had previously visited North Korea, felt a strong sense of déjà vu in China. He was hosted by a local Chinese family spanning three generations, where everyone lived in harmony, but interactions with other locals were limited, as Chinese tour guides would intervene whenever it happened. Despite the remarkable infrastructure in places like shopping malls and buildings, they often lacked people and shops, resembling ghost towns.
“Far Ahead” agreed that within the predetermined itinerary, urban planning was great, with well-built underground electricity infrastructure. However, venturing just a kilometer beyond, the surroundings transitioned into what felt like a slum. These observations show that these tours never reflect the true essence of the daily lives of ordinary Chinese people.
Students, accustomed to freedom and democracy, openly acknowledged: “Taiwan is still superior.”
When asked about the possibility of returning to China for exchange in the future, R frankly admitted that if a teacher were to organize it, he might consider going: “It’s just enduring a few days, and then you can enjoy traveling. Observing people and their way of life, you’ll come to appreciate just how good Taiwan truly is!”
However, R recalled incidents where a fellow student was asked to unlock his phone at customs, then taken to a small room and interrogated about his stance on Taiwan independence. He had to quickly call his father, a professor at a prominent university in China, to resolve the issue. Nonetheless, R believed that with teachers leading the tour, the risk was minimal. He viewed it as an opportunity to travel and observe what the “model template” citizen looks like.
T recounted that Chinese officials offered Taiwanese entrepreneurs 3 million RMB upon arrival, equivalent to about 13 million TWD, along with low-price accommodations and office spaces for only 4,000 TWD per month. They also facilitated connections with various banks, which sounded highly enticing. However, he stressed: “I have no interest in going to China now!” He found the Hong Kong National Security Law terrifying, as it allowed arrests worldwide, especially targeting people with different political views and ideologies. Additionally, most software applications in China have backdoors for accessing users’ personal data, allowing the government to monitor everything. With his academic background in cybersecurity and knowledge of how to navigate the technology, he joked: “It’s really easy!”
(Feature photo by Christopher Le on Uplash)
