Chinese University Expels Student for Alleged Relationship with Foreign Man, Citing “Damage to National Reputation”
A female student in China has been expelled from her university for allegedly having an "inappropriate interaction" with a foreign man, sparking widespread debate on social media over the university’s decision to invoke "national reputation" as grounds for her dismissal.
Kokcha News Agency: A student at Dalian Polytechnic University in China has been expelled after the university accused her of damaging “national reputation” by engaging in “inappropriate interactions” with a foreign man. The decision has ignited a heated debate on Chinese social media platforms, with many users questioning whether the university overstepped its authority by judging the student’s personal life and elevating it to a matter of national importance.
In a statement released last week, the university announced that the student would be expelled within 60 days for violating the school’s rule against “inappropriate interactions with foreigners that harm national reputation.” The university also named the student in its statement, though The Associated Press (AP) chose not to disclose her identity due to privacy concerns.
Connection to “Zeus”?
Chinese internet users have linked the expelled student to videos posted by Ukrainian professional gamer Danylo Teslenko, also known as “Zeus.” The videos reportedly show an “Asian-looking young woman” in intimate moments with Teslenko in a hotel room. However, AP could not independently confirm whether the woman in the videos is the same student who was expelled.
Social Media Backlash
On platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, many users criticized the university’s decision, with some describing it as a “Taliban-style” approach. Others questioned whether the same standard would apply if a Chinese man were involved with a foreign woman, suggesting that the incident reflects sexist double standards.
Shanghai-based state newspaper *The Paper* also weighed in, stating that publicly disclosing the student’s full name was not only inappropriate but could also violate China’s Personal Information Protection Law.
Teslenko’s Response
Teslenko confirmed in a post on Sunday that he had shared “a few videos” with a girl he met in Shanghai on Telegram but later deleted them after realizing the seriousness of the situation. He stated, “Our faces were visible, but there was no explicit or disrespectful content in the videos… I never said that Chinese girls are easy.”
According to Chinese media reports, Teslenko and the student met in December 2024 during the finals of a gaming competition called “Perfect World Shanghai Major.”
Context:
The incident highlights the tension in China between personal freedoms and the state’s emphasis on maintaining national reputation and social order. It also raises questions about the extent to which universities can regulate students’ personal lives, especially when involving foreigners.
