A female Chinese student who praised America’s freedom and democracy in a commencement speech at the University of Maryland has come under fire for her remarks.
Footage of Yang Shuping’s speech made its way to her homeland of China, where many have bashed Yang for her comments, The Washington Post reports:
A video of her eight-minute address at her commencement ceremony at the university went viral in China, attracting 50 million views and provoking hundreds of thousands of critical comments by Chinese netizens the following day. Even the People’s Daily, a Communist Party mouthpiece, weighed in, reporting on a crescendo of criticism of Yang for “bolstering negative Chinese stereotypes.”
Accused by nationalist netizens of flattering the United States and belittling China, Yang was forced to make an apology Monday.
In her remarks, Yang, a psychology and theater major, said it was America’s “fresh air” that drew her here.
“I grew up in a city in China where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside, otherwise I might get sick. However, the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport, I felt free,” she said.
She then went on to praise America’s core values of democracy and freedom.
“I would soon feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful. The fresh air of free speech. Democracy and free speech should not be taken for granted. Democracy and freedom are the fresh air that is worth fighting for,” she added.
Yang issued an apology for her comments, writing she’s proud of her homeland.
“I hope to make contributions to it using what I have learned overseas. The speech was just to share my experiences overseas, and I had no intentions of belittling my country and home town. … I am deeply sorry and hope for forgiveness,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, the University of Maryland defended Yang.
“The university proudly supports Shuping’s right to share her views and her unique perspectives and we commend her on lending her voice on this joyous occasion,” it said in a statement.
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