TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman and presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, on Friday (Nov. 10), advocated for the inclusion of mainland Chinese students in Taiwan's healthcare system, citing medical human rights and the enhancement of the epidemic prevention system.
Lai proposes treating mainland Chinese students as international students, which entails including them in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. This plan initially faced resistance from some DPP legislators, but Lai reported gaining broader acceptance within the party after providing detailed clarifications.
In addressing concerns, Lai distinguished his proposal from the Taiwan People's Party's (TPP) controversial decision to nominate a Chinese-born individual as a legislator-at-large. He stressed the human rights angle of his plan, contrasting it with the criticisms leveled against the TPP for its perceived closeness to China. Lai emphasized the need to view these two issues separately.
The announcement is particularly significant as it precedes the upcoming elections. Lai reasoned that integrating mainland Chinese students into the NHI, especially after three years of pandemic-related challenges, would make Taiwan's healthcare network more robust and comprehensive.
