Taiwanese Academics Are Playing with Fire

No sooner had the disappearance of remote-sensing expert Chen Kun-shan (陳錕山) to China been made public last week than a new scandal — this time involving Taiwanese experts on regional security — made the headlines this week, once again raising questions about what, if anything, can be done to prevent a brain drain and potential security breaches.

During an interpellation with National Security Bureau Director-General Lee Hsiang-chou (李翔宙) on May 28, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) revealed that three political scientists affiliated with state academic institutions had taken positions as “distinguished research fellows” with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS, 中國南海研究院). The academics in question, all well-respected researchers in their fields, were Song Yann-huei (宋燕輝), an expert on territorial sea disputes at Academia Sinica, Liu Fu-kuo (劉復國), a research fellow in the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University (NCCU), and Michael Gau (高聖惕), a professor at the Institute of the Law of the Sea at National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU).

In addition to his academic role, Liu has served as a consultative adviser for the Mainland Affairs Council and chairman of the Research and Planning Board at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others, while Gau is currently vice chairman of the Aviation Safety Council (ASC). Both Liu and Song have been involved in Track-II dialogue with their Chinese counterparts on matters pertaining to territorial sea disputes, mainly the volatile South China Sea (SCS).

Although it has yet to be determined whether the three individuals had access to classified information, there is reason to question the appropriateness of public servants (Academia Sinica is institutionally under the Presidential Office, while NCCU and NTOU are both national universities in which tenured professors are treated as public servants) associating with research bodies in China. While none are directly involved in policymaking, they nevertheless have influential roles in helping Taiwan develop its policies on the SCS dispute and have occasionally represented Taiwan at academic conferences abroad. Although China and Taiwan have separate claims in the SCS, Beijing has often called for cooperation in countering the efforts of other claimants in the region, which include Vietnam and the Philippines. Given that Taipei and Beijing are separate claimants, the involvement of Song, Liu and Gau gives rise to potential conflicts of interests.

The NISCSS’ ties with the Chinese government (as a 國家級, or “national institute,” it is attached to the Hainan Provincial Government and works under the policy guidance of the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and the State Oceanic Administration) also makes the trio’s role highly problematic: Taiwanese public servants are now simultaneously serving the interests of the Chinese government (we have since been informed that the positions are honorary only and do not involve renumeration). [1] Wu Shicun (吳士存), president of the NISCSS, is a delegate to the Hainan legislature and a former director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province.

At this point there is absolutely no reason to suspect that Song, Liu and Gau were disloyal or that they have engaged in activities that were detrimental to Taiwan’s national security (full disclosure: the author knows Song and Liu personally and has contributed to a publication headed by Liu). Nevertheless, the controversy highlights the challenges that Taiwan faces in dealing with China’s ambitions and the many pitfalls that are associated with close cooperation between academics from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Besides potentially compromising the integrity of Taiwanese academics, exchanges of this nature can be exploited by Chinese officials as a propaganda tool to create the illusion that Taiwan and China are joining forces to defend shared territory and interests under “one China.” In line with psychological warfare theory, cooperation with the enemy on matters of national security can also serve to undermine confidence in Taiwan’s determination to defend itself. Lastly, there is a risk that in some cases Taiwanese academics could become conduits, conscious or not, for intelligence gathering by the Chinese espionage apparatus.

Unless clear rules are established to regulate such exchanges (no longer considering such academics public servants would be an option), other conflicts of interest, which under some circumstances could seriously damage Taiwan’s national security, will likely occur. Above all, this is a wake-up call for Taiwan, which needs to provide a challenging environment conducive to career progression if it wants to keep its top academics from going elsewhere.

This article was updated on May 30.

1. 兩岸人民關係條例33條 prohibits Taiwanese citizens from taking up jobs/positions in Chinese government institutions.

2 thoughts on “Taiwanese Academics Are Playing with Fire”

  1. Dear Mr. Cole,
    As a long-time reader of your articles, I appreciate all of the contributions you’ve made to raising awareness about cross-strait issues and bringing some analytical clarity to local political news.
    That said, it seems that the journalistic integrity we have come to expect has been abandoned for this piece.
    A few comments:
    1. Hundreds or thousands of Taiwanese researchers collaborate with institutions in the mainland. They work in many different disciplines and represent a diversity of local perspectives. These are just three of them, and whatever their views are, they, too, are Taiwanese.
    2. Taiwanese researchers also take up positions in many other countries, both those supportive and unsupportive of Taiwan’s security interests.
    3. As suggested, the motivations for Taiwanese researchers collaborating with mainland institutions could well be against Taiwanese interests. However, it is equally likely (perhaps even more so) that they export a greater understanding of the Taiwan policy perspective to the mainland. Despite the potential risks, it could just as easily be argued that we should be encouraging greater academic collaboration and exchange with the mainland and elsewhere. It may be one of Taiwan’s greatest weapons in its soft power arsenal tactics for ensuring its long-term well-being.
    4. While mainland Chinese interests represent a threat to Taiwan in some respects, China is not “the enemy,” as the article seems to suggest. Perhaps that hint was unintentional.
    5. Employment at an institution does not necessarily entail promoting (or even agreeing with) their views. Both of us, as well as the academics mentioned, know that.
    6. While targeting individuals is a long-standing tradition in Taiwanese (and other countries’) politics, I hope that we, as academics and journalists, can rise above that. You have been a role model for other authors in the past. Don’t let that go to waste.
    All the best. As always, I look forward to the next.
    Sincerely,
    Jonathan

    Reply
  2. I know Liu and Song, in fact I went to school with Song, and I don’t believe they would betray their country. I get the political warfare tactics of Beijing, but these guys don’t fool easily. Song particularly has made efforts in the past to stay away from politics and has avoided (painfully at times) getting involved in Chinese influence efforts.

    Reply

Leave a Comment