Taipei, Mar 1 (IANS) – Taiwan has imposed sanctions on seven Chinese universities, known as the “seven sons of China’s national defense,” citing security threats and concerns over potential technology theft, according to local media reports.
The Ministry of Education in Taiwan stated that these universities were originally established by China’s Ministry of National Defense before being transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Taiwan’s leading daily, Taipei Times, reported that these institutions are deeply involved in the development of Chinese military equipment, aviation, telecommunications, chemicals, and material sciences, serving the interests of both the Chinese military and the Communist Party’s “United Front” strategy.
Taiwan’s Minister of Education, Cheng Ying-Yao, announced on Friday that Taiwanese universities and research institutions are now prohibited from engaging in any academic collaborations or exchanges with these seven universities. The decision was made to safeguard critical national security technologies from being compromised.
The minister further emphasized that academic interactions with these institutions could lead to sensitive Taiwanese technologies being inadvertently leaked or stolen. A Taiwanese researcher, speaking anonymously, disclosed that faculty members from the “seven sons” had attempted to engage with him, with one professor from the Beijing Institute of Technology hinting at illicit activities.
During an event in February, President William Lai stressed the importance of democracy and academic independence, urging universities to remain cautious in their dealings with China. Previously, Taiwan had blacklisted two other Chinese universities from conducting exchange programs, citing their links to Beijing’s United Front Work Department.
China’s increasing influence remains a major security concern for Taiwan. The Taiwanese government has accused the Chinese Communist Party of leveraging its United Front strategy to gather intelligence and manipulate public opinion. Since 2020, Beijing has also introduced education policies, including a unified online admissions system, to attract Taiwanese students to study in China.
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