China’s Dunhuang Media Center in Gansu province has confirmed that Edward Kuperman, an American it had planned to hire as an anchor, has given up the position, according to a China Central Television (CCTV) News report on July 31. Chinese internet users had earlier discovered that Kuperman studied in Taiwan and interned at a right-wing American think tank, sparking accusations that the city was “using public funds to support an anti-China figure.”
Dunhuang had reportedly offered a package worth 900,000 yuan (about $125,700) — a 300,000 yuan (about $41,900) annual salary plus 600,000 yuan (about $83,800) in subsidies — to recruit international communication talent in 2025. Kuperman, a Yale graduate in East Asian studies, was the only foreign candidate in the program.
CCTV News reported that local authorities clarified the compensation details after online criticism. The position was an off-payroll hire, and the widely circulated “900,000 yuan” figure was not an annual salary. The actual pay was 300,000 yuan pre-tax per year, plus a 30,000 yuan annual living allowance paid over ten years contingent on passing yearly reviews, and a one-time 300,000 yuan home-purchase subsidy for those who bought property locally after three years of service — partially refundable if employment ended before ten years. The real annual compensation was about 330,000 yuan (about $46,000).
Authorities also said an investigation team had been formed to review the recruitment process for compliance issues raised by some internet users, with corrections and accountability measures to follow.
Kuperman had reportedly studied in Taiwan through National Taiwan University’s ICLP Chinese-language program in 2023 and interned at the American Enterprise Institute, contributing to Taiwan-related reports. Officials said Dunhuang would proceed more cautiously in future talent recruitment while promoting Chinese culture and international exchange.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 1, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202608010078.aspx