TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian said Taiwan would not recognize academic degrees from mainland China, after China cut tuitions to lure Taiwanese students.
China announced in August that, starting in the current autumn term, Taiwanese students would be charged the same tuition as their mainland counterparts and would also be eligible for national scholarships.
Speaking at a youth conference Sunday, Chen said tens of thousands of local students would go to study in China if Taiwan recognized such degrees, leaving Taiwanese universities bereft of students, the China Post reported Monday.
Opposition parties criticized Chen for lacking an international perspective.
Kuomintang lawmaker Chu Fong-chih pointed out that China's top universities had higher international ratings than Taiwan's top schools. She said students would flock to China to study even if the Taiwan government did not recognize their degrees.
Chen also voiced concern about pressing ahead to set up direct transport links, including air links, with mainland China, saying the island's security could be endangered.
"Talks, dialogue and negotiations on direct air links can take place only with the premise that there is democracy, peace and equality," Chen said.
