Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 54
54
Deferred
Publish five-year plan for scaling UK-Taiwan English and Mandarin language teaching cooperation
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government this year publish a plan to scale up its cooperation with Taiwan over the next five years on English language teaching in Taiwan and Mandarin teaching in the UK to meet the requirements of Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 programme and the UK’s need to reduce dependence on Confucius Institutes, especially in secondary schools where breaches of freedom of speech will be an issue, just as they have been in universities. (Paragraph 171) Japan and Korea
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees but responds by stating that it will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals or communities in the UK, failing to address the recommendation regarding language teaching cooperation with Taiwan or Confucius Institutes.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Government recognises concerns about overseas interference in our higher education sector, including through Confucius Institutes and regularly assesses the risks facing academia. The British Council are active in Taiwan and have strong links with the Ministry of Education, particularly in relation to improving English language proficiency.
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