A Chinese language college introduced the expulsion of a feminine scholar for “damaging nationwide dignity” after she was accused of “improper interactions” with a overseas man, producing heated discussions throughout Chinese language social media about whether or not the college had gone too far.
During the last a number of days, the expulsion has drawn hundreds of feedback on platforms equivalent to Xiaohongshu and Douyin, the Chinese language model of TikTok, a lot of which query whether or not the college has the suitable to evaluate her private life and elevate it to a matter of nationwide import.
In an announcement posted final week, Dalian Polytechnic College within the nation’s northeast declared that the coed can be “expelled” in 60 days, saying she violated the college rule towards “having improper interactions with foreigners that injury nationwide dignity.”
“Your misbehaviors on December 16, 2024, prompted a horrible destructive influence,” the announcement mentioned, with out giving particulars on what constituted the “misbehaviors.” The college launched her identify, however AP just isn’t publishing it out of privateness considerations.
The college’s actions illustrate a lot of points percolating in fashionable Chinese language society, together with discussions round gender bias and a full-on push towards nationalism.
Chinese language web customers have linked the accused college scholar to movies posted by Danylo Teslenko, also called Zeus, an expert Ukrainian gamer exhibiting him being intimate with an Asian-looking younger lady in a resort room. AP can’t independently confirm if the lady within the video is the coed.
Some on social media referred to as the college’s resolution to expel the coed an indication of the “Taliban model,” by which a selected nation or group claims possession over a girl’s physique. Others name it misogyny, asking if a Chinese language man can be thought-about a “nationwide delight” if he had intercourse with a overseas lady.
The Paper, a state-run newspaper in Shanghai, mentioned it was not simply “inappropriate” to publish the coed’s full identify but in addition “could even violate the Private Data Safety Regulation.”
“It’s improper to graft non-public affairs onto the general public area for public disposal,” mentioned The Paper.
Teslenko, the gamer, confirmed on Sunday that he posted “a couple of movies on Telegram with a lady I met in Shanghai” however later deleted them “as quickly as I understood the seriousness of the state of affairs,” in response to his put up on X, previously often known as Twitter.
“Our faces had been seen, however there was no specific content material or something disrespectful in these movies,” the put up mentioned, “I’ve by no means mentioned that Chinese language ladies are straightforward.”
Media stories mentioned Teslenko and the coed met on the ultimate of the Excellent World Shanghai Main, a gaming competitors held in December 2024.
An e mail despatched to Dalian Polytechnic College was not instantly answered.