The Chinese Ministry of Education has launched a campaign to enforce ideological conformity among university teachers. Ever since Xi Jinping took office, education has been focused on cultivating talent supportive of socialism, and universities are now required to offer courses on ideological and political theory, including “Xi Jinping Thought.” The ministry’s recent notice calls for a “self-examination and self-correction” campaign, targeting teachers of these courses to investigate their past academic experiences for any “inappropriate remarks or behaviors.” However, teachers have found templates on Chinese websites to help them complete their self-examination reports.

This campaign has prompted major universities across China to initiate a concentrated learning and education movement to evaluate teachers’ professional ethics. Specifically, teachers of ideological and political theory courses are being scrutinized for their past beliefs, political discipline, academic integrity, and ideological morality. Those deemed to have “crossed the bottom line” in these aspects face removal from their teaching positions through job transfers, dismissals, or resignations. Universities are expected to complete preliminary investigations by mid-July and propose plans to address problematic teachers.

Since Xi Jinping’s call for the “Seven Don’t Mentions” at universities, an increasing number of Chinese professors have faced consequences for discussing topics like universal values, press freedom, and civil society in their classrooms. Several professors from prominent institutions have been affected, leading to a culture of suppressing dissent. Apart from dismissals, outspoken and progressive teachers also face various other forms of retaliation. For instance, Guo Yuhua, a professor at Tsinghua University known for her work on China’s underprivileged communities, was detained by customs officials when she tried to travel to Hong Kong. Guo Yuhua had criticized and exposed policies related to rural areas and grassroots governance in China and publicly withdrew from the Communist Party in 2014.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2023
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/teacher-07072023015818.html

China passed the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign Relations” on June 28, 2023. Wang Yi, China’s number one official in charge of foreign affairs, holding the titles of Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Politburo member, Director of CCP Central Committee’s Foreign Affairs Work Committee, and State Council member, published a lengthy report on People’s Daily to praise the significance of the law.

Wang stated that the law represents Xi Jinping’s ideas on conducting foreign affairs, as well as the work of the CCP’s leadership on the matter. He also suggested that law offers a weapon for China to better fight against foreign forces.

Wang stated the following:

“(1) The enactment of the law on foreign relations is a major achievement in implementing Xi Jinping Diplomatic Thought in the form of law.”

“(2) The enactment of the law on foreign relations is an important measure to strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the CCP Central Committee on foreign affairs.”

…

“(6) The enactment of the law on foreign relations address an urgent need to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. At present, China’s development has entered a period of the coexistence of strategic opportunities and risks and challenges, with increased uncertainties and unpredictable factors. In the face of serious challenges, we must maintain strategic determination, know and meet the difficulties, dare to fight, and be good at fighting. This includes the use of the weapon of laws and continuous enrichment and improvement of the legal “toolbox” for foreign affairs struggle, and full use of the law as a “stabilizer” for international order. The enactment of the foreign relations law, the clearly opposing of all hegemony and superpower politics, the opposing of any unilateralism, protectionism, bullying, and foreign interference, sanctions, sabotage and other acts against our country, and the clear enactment of legal provisions on countermeasures and restrictions will have preventive, warning, and deterrent effect, offering our country the legal basis to exercise anti-sanctions and anti-interference, and offering us legal means to safeguard national interests and maintain world peace.”

Source: People’s Daily, June 29, 2023
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2023/0629/c1001-40023485.html