Taiwan's parliament today passed a controversial bill to open local universities to Chinese students. Parliamentary speaker Wang Jin-pyn said they will, however, be barred from working part-time or full-time while studying in Taiwan, and will not be allowed to sit professional examinations or those for the civil service. Lawmakers also agreed to recognise mainland diplomas, except for medical degrees. Taiwan aims to admit Chinese students for the first time next year, to help ease a shortage of students caused by the island's dwindling birth rate and a trend towards Taiwanese students enrolling at mainland universities. According to forecasts, more than a third of Taiwan's 164 universities will be shut down by 2021 because they cannot get enough students. Critics warn that an influx of young people from the mainland could pose a threat to national security and worsen unemployment.