TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei First Girls’ High School announced it will ban staff from taking Chinese state media interviews after one of its teachers' remarks on CCTV sparked controversy.
Principal Chen Chih-yuan (陳智源) told staff on Monday, "In light of the current cross-strait tensions, and to avoid creating unnecessary troubles, (TFG) will prohibit teachers from accepting interviews with state media of the People's Republic of China (such as CCTV) with immediate effect,” per CNA. He said the school remains a free and democratic institution that tolerates different viewpoints as long as they do not break school rules.
During an interview with CCTV, Alice Ou (區桂芝), a Chinese literature teacher at the school, criticized President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) classification of China as a “hostile foreign force.'” She claimed such a stance makes it difficult to face her relatives in China, per Liberty Times.
Ou accused Lai of using political power to pressure students to sever their family bonds. She claimed Lai's idea of “Taiwan independence” is one that "distorts the roots of our history, our cultural origins, and our bloodline.”
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called it inappropriate for a high school teacher to accept an interview with Chinese state-run media at this time and “use language that CPP media wants to promote.” MAC Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said that Ou has access to daily news reports and is aware of China’s frequent military aircraft incursions around Taiwan.
Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said that teachers’ freedom of speech should be respected, but they must maintain a clear sense of national awareness and identity.
The Taipei education bureau asked Taipei First Girls' High School to investigate the matter. The school concluded that the teacher did not violate educational neutrality on campus.
On March 13, Lai said, “China has undeniably become what our Anti-Infiltration Act defines as a ‘hostile foreign force.’” The president released 17 strategies to counter growing espionage cases and infiltration efforts against Taiwan, from reinstating the military court system to enhancing scrutiny of immigrants from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
