Professor Xia Yeliang from the school of Economics, at Peking University. On the blackboard it reads ‘Freedom’ (top-left), ‘Constitutional Democracy’ (top-right), ‘Checking Balance’ (bottom-left) and ‘Rule of Law (bottom-right).
BEIJING — A top Chinese university has decided to remove a politically outspoken professor who has advocated for free speech and democratic reform, said the professor Xia Yeliang.
Xia said he was notified by Peking University’s School of Economics that a committee had voted not to renew his contract.
The action comes after persistent rumors he would be dismissed in recent weeks, which had sparked concern from U.S. academics, whose universities are increasingly expanding into a Chinese market that is lucrative but remains politically repressive.
Peking University officials did not answer calls to its office on Saturday.
In recent years, Xia, an economist, had called for more public discussion of political reform.
Xia said he was notified by Peking University’s School of Economics that a committee had voted not to renew his contract.
The action comes after persistent rumors he would be dismissed in recent weeks, which had sparked concern from U.S. academics, whose universities are increasingly expanding into a Chinese market that is lucrative but remains politically repressive.
Peking University officials did not answer calls to its office on Saturday.
In recent years, Xia, an economist, had called for more public discussion of political reform.
In 2008, he signed a petition demanding far-reaching changes to China’s single-party, authoritarian Communist rule.
The party responded by imprisoning the main organizer of that petition, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo.
But what may have offended party leaders most was an open letter Xia wrote in 2009 criticizing Liu Yunshan, then-head of China’s powerful propaganda ministry.
But what may have offended party leaders most was an open letter Xia wrote in 2009 criticizing Liu Yunshan, then-head of China’s powerful propaganda ministry.
In it, Xia derided China and Liu’s iron-fisted censorship practices.
After he postd the letter, Xia said university leaders asked him to confess to wrongdoings.
Liu has since become one of the seven party standing committee members who have absolute rule over the country.
And more recently, Xia has criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping’s favorite new catchphrase of promoting a new “China Dream.”
Xia said he was summoned Friday afternoon to a meeting with the school dean, the department’s Communist party chief and head of the employment committee.
And more recently, Xia has criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping’s favorite new catchphrase of promoting a new “China Dream.”
Xia said he was summoned Friday afternoon to a meeting with the school dean, the department’s Communist party chief and head of the employment committee.
They told him he had been ousted at a meeting from which he was excluded by 30 faculty votes against him, three in support and one abstention.
“They kept warning me I cannot tell foreign media I was fired for political reasons but purely academic ones,” Xia said in a phone interview, noting that he had just passed an academic assessment without problems late last year.
“Even now having been fired, I cannot say it is political. In China, they can take harsh measures against you, for example attacking my family members,” he said.
“They kept warning me I cannot tell foreign media I was fired for political reasons but purely academic ones,” Xia said in a phone interview, noting that he had just passed an academic assessment without problems late last year.
“Even now having been fired, I cannot say it is political. In China, they can take harsh measures against you, for example attacking my family members,” he said.
“I would remind you that my wife also works at Peking University.”
As one of China’s most prestigious institutions, Peking University had come under sharp criticism recently for seeking Xia’s ouster.
Last month, 136 faculty members at Wellesley College in Massachusetts signed a petition protesting Peking University’s actions and expressing concerns over a new academic partnership between Wellesley and Peking University.
Xia’s case “illustrates more general problems and paradoxes that arise as American liberal arts institutions increasingly work in authoritarian countries. What are the rules of engagement when we enter into such partnerships?”
As one of China’s most prestigious institutions, Peking University had come under sharp criticism recently for seeking Xia’s ouster.
Last month, 136 faculty members at Wellesley College in Massachusetts signed a petition protesting Peking University’s actions and expressing concerns over a new academic partnership between Wellesley and Peking University.
Xia’s case “illustrates more general problems and paradoxes that arise as American liberal arts institutions increasingly work in authoritarian countries. What are the rules of engagement when we enter into such partnerships?”
Wellesley sociologist Thomas Cushman wrote last month explaining the decision.
“If more American academics take a stand against such persecution, it might be possible to invest these partnerships with our fundamental principles and some degree of authenticity rather than have them stand as charades that work against the values and principles of the liberal arts.”
In August, the New York-based Committee of Concerned Scientists also issued an open letter of support for Xia.
Long considered one of China’s most elite and liberal institutions, Peking University has boasted of partnerships with several other foreign universities including Stanford and Yale.
In August, the New York-based Committee of Concerned Scientists also issued an open letter of support for Xia.
Long considered one of China’s most elite and liberal institutions, Peking University has boasted of partnerships with several other foreign universities including Stanford and Yale.
Demand for the prestige and name-brand degrees of Western universities has grown alongside the rise of wealthy elite in China.
And U.S. universities have been eager to enter the vast untapped market.
Xia’s dismissal comes on the heels of a wider crack down on public expression of liberal opinions.
Xia’s dismissal comes on the heels of a wider crack down on public expression of liberal opinions.
In recent weeks, authorities have arrested many political activists, bloggers and whistleblowers in a continuing wave of repression.
In August, another outspoken professor, Zhang Xuezhong was prohibited from teaching any more courses at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai.
Xia said his employment will officially end on Jan. 31, and finding another job will prove impossible given his ouster.
“No school would dare to hire me now,” he said.
In August, another outspoken professor, Zhang Xuezhong was prohibited from teaching any more courses at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai.
Xia said his employment will officially end on Jan. 31, and finding another job will prove impossible given his ouster.
“No school would dare to hire me now,” he said.
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