Chinese Communist Party critic Xu Zhangrun offered Harvard University research post
- Fairbank Centre invites former Tsinghua professor to take up one-year appointment in the US but Xu unable to leave the country
- Centre says offer is sign of support for Xu, who was dismissed amid claims that he solicited prostitutes, allegations he strongly denies
Former Tsinghua University professor Xu Zhangrun has been appointed an associate in research at Harvard’s Fairbank Centre for Chinese Studies for the 2020-21 academic year.
The centre sent a letter to Xu on August 13, inviting him to serve as a research fellow for one year from July 1 but Xu has been banned from leaving China.
“I can’t get out. Harvard’s appointment is symbolic,” he said.
In a letter of thanks to Harvard, Xu said the position was an honour and encouraged an independent, freethinking and unyielding academic spirit.
He said China had benefited from the reform and opening up that started in 1978, but “it is difficult for the authorities to change the nature of totalitarianism”.
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Communist Party investigating Ren Zhiqiang, outspoken critic of China’s coronavirus response
