Japan-China Relations Affect Inter-University Exchanges: Many Universities Halt Exchanges, Students' Dreams Shattered
Due to deteriorating Japan-China relations, many Chinese universities are canceling student exchange programs to Japan, an investigation by the "Asahi Shimbun" revealed. 21 out of 27 surveyed universities stated they are temporarily suspending exchanges, while Japanese universities also face difficulties sending students to China. This has severely impacted educational exchanges between the two countries, shattering students' dreams.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Dai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 5th) Since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding a "Taiwan contingency" last November, Japan-China relations have remained strained, impacting educational exchanges between the two countries. According to an "Asahi Shimbun" investigation, many key universities in China have successively canceled their student exchange programs to Japan. Among the 27 universities from which information was obtained, as many as 21 stated they are temporarily suspending exchanges, shattering the dreams of many students.
The report points out that China's Ministry of Education called on citizens to carefully consider studying in Japan last November, which was seen as a countermeasure to Takaichi's response. Most Chinese universities that halted student exchanges cited "impacts of the international environment" as the reason, but Professor Shigeo Sonoda of the University of Tokyo suggested that it might actually be a result of "guessing the superiors' intentions."
Sources at Fudan University in Shanghai stated that the university expressed that it "does not encourage students to study in Japan" and halted exchange programs for the new semester starting in April this year. Beijing Forestry University dissuaded students interested in applying to study in Japan, ultimately leading to no applicants. While some schools maintained existing exchange programs, they have decided to stop related programs after the autumn semester.
On the other hand, Japanese students are also unable to go to China for exchanges. Ritsumeikan University stated that its Campus Asia exchange program, which involves students from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean universities taking turns attending classes for one semester at each institution, has seen its planned dispatch of four students to China for the new semester canceled because China stopped accepting students.
In addition, many Japanese universities, including Hokkaido University, Nagoya University, Ehime University, Shimane University, Hiroshima University, Oita University, and Kagoshima University, have also received notifications from some partner schools that student exchange programs are temporarily suspended.
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) stated that since last November, in addition to a decrease in Chinese students coming to Japan, there have also been cases of Japanese students being blocked from going to China. However, a comprehensive investigation has not yet been conducted, and they will continue to monitor the situation.
Despite the obstruction of inter-university exchanges, individual applications to Japanese universities or language schools are still ongoing. An operator of a cram school for Chinese students in Shinjuku, Tokyo, stated that the number of new students in April this year was "roughly the same as last year."
However, the sudden policy change caught many students off guard. A third-year male student from Liaoning Province originally planned to study at Kagoshima University for one year starting in April but had his program canceled on the eve of departure by his university, citing "the country does not allow it." He admitted, "I was so sad I couldn't sleep all night."
He has been studying Japanese since high school and hopes to work in Japan in the future, saying, "The suspension of studying abroad will change many people's lives."
Another second-year female student from Zhejiang Province originally planned to exchange at Chiba University in October but received a cancellation notice in early March. She said that she loves Japanese theater and actors, "I thought studying abroad would bring me closer to my dream, but now it has been forcibly interrupted."
Some students chose to pursue their dreams through other avenues. A third-year female student from Zhejiang Province originally planned to exchange at Nishogakusha University. She said that although her university canceled the program due to "force majeure," she still aims to pursue graduate studies in Japan. "Even if there are many difficulties, I don't want to give up the opportunity to go to Japan." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150505
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(Central News Agency reporter Dai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 5th) Since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding a "Taiwan contingency" last November, Japan-China relations have remained strained, impacting educational exchanges between the two countries. According to an "Asahi Shimbun" investigation, many key universities in China have successively canceled their student exchange programs to Japan. Among the 27 universities from which information was obtained, as many as 21 stated they are temporarily suspending exchanges, shattering the dreams of many students.
The report points out that China's Ministry of Education called on citizens to carefully consider studying in Japan last November, which was seen as a countermeasure to Takaichi's response. Most Chinese universities that halted student exchanges cited "impacts of the international environment" as the reason, but Professor Shigeo Sonoda of the University of Tokyo suggested that it might actually be a result of "guessing the superiors' intentions."
Sources at Fudan University in Shanghai stated that the university expressed that it "does not encourage students to study in Japan" and halted exchange programs for the new semester starting in April this year. Beijing Forestry University dissuaded students interested in applying to study in Japan, ultimately leading to no applicants. While some schools maintained existing exchange programs, they have decided to stop related programs after the autumn semester.
On the other hand, Japanese students are also unable to go to China for exchanges. Ritsumeikan University stated that its Campus Asia exchange program, which involves students from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean universities taking turns attending classes for one semester at each institution, has seen its planned dispatch of four students to China for the new semester canceled because China stopped accepting students.
In addition, many Japanese universities, including Hokkaido University, Nagoya University, Ehime University, Shimane University, Hiroshima University, Oita University, and Kagoshima University, have also received notifications from some partner schools that student exchange programs are temporarily suspended.
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) stated that since last November, in addition to a decrease in Chinese students coming to Japan, there have also been cases of Japanese students being blocked from going to China. However, a comprehensive investigation has not yet been conducted, and they will continue to monitor the situation.
Despite the obstruction of inter-university exchanges, individual applications to Japanese universities or language schools are still ongoing. An operator of a cram school for Chinese students in Shinjuku, Tokyo, stated that the number of new students in April this year was "roughly the same as last year."
However, the sudden policy change caught many students off guard. A third-year male student from Liaoning Province originally planned to study at Kagoshima University for one year starting in April but had his program canceled on the eve of departure by his university, citing "the country does not allow it." He admitted, "I was so sad I couldn't sleep all night."
He has been studying Japanese since high school and hopes to work in Japan in the future, saying, "The suspension of studying abroad will change many people's lives."
Another second-year female student from Zhejiang Province originally planned to exchange at Chiba University in October but received a cancellation notice in early March. She said that she loves Japanese theater and actors, "I thought studying abroad would bring me closer to my dream, but now it has been forcibly interrupted."
Some students chose to pursue their dreams through other avenues. A third-year female student from Zhejiang Province originally planned to exchange at Nishogakusha University. She said that although her university canceled the program due to "force majeure," she still aims to pursue graduate studies in Japan. "Even if there are many difficulties, I don't want to give up the opportunity to go to Japan." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted publicly or used without authorization.