The road to peace, by surrender? Tsinghua University professor's remarks sparked heated discussions!
Overview of hot spots
Recently, Yan Xuetong, dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University, made a remark that caused an uproar on the Internet. At a public forum, when asked when China will achieve peace, Professor Yan made a surprising statement, saying that "the fastest way to peace is to surrender"
And take the historical Sino-British Opium War and the Sino-Japanese War as examples,
It is believed that it is China's "knowledge of current affairs" that has brought peace.
Yan Xuetong, born on December 7, 1952 in Tianjin, is an international relations theorist, a senior professor of liberal arts at Tsinghua University, a foreign academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University.
As soon as this remark came out, it was immediately questioned by many young students, who could hardly accept such an argument that seemed to go against the national spirit. Professor Yan further said that national affairs should be handled by the government, and the public should not interfere too much.
In addition, his stance on international issues has also sparked controversy, such as advocating a clear line between China and Russia and opposing the use of force to resolve the Gulf issue, which seems to coincide with the expectations of some countries. These remarks make one wonder why a professor at a top university would make such an "anti-intellectual" view.
Personal attitude
Imagine how the heroes of history would have felt if they heard that "peace is in surrender." Yue Fei resisted Jin, Wen Tianxiang refused to surrender, was their heroic resistance for a faster defeat? Professor Yan's viewpoint is undoubtedly a misreading of, or even a contempt for, the spirit of the backbone of the nation. It is true that peace is our common pursuit, but it is by no means based on the renunciation of dignity and sovereignty. Surrender is often not exchanged for real peace, but for a long period of humiliation and passivity.
When it comes to "national affairs, the people don't care", does it mean that we should give up our concern and participation in the future of the country?
Such rhetoric undoubtedly severs the close ties between citizens and the state, and ignores everyone's sense of responsibility for the rise and fall of the country. After all, the rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every man, this is the truth we have been taught since childhood, and it is also the spiritual pillar of the unity of the Chinese nation.
As for the "special proposals" from an international standpoint, one cannot help but ask what kind of stance should a scholar's independent thinking be based on? Is it to speak for the country and the people, or to serve specific interests? Professor Yan's interaction with the U.S. ambassador to China raises even more questions about whether his remarks are inadvertently in line with the expectations of some external forces.
In Tsinghua, a place that symbolizes the pinnacle of national higher education, we are looking forward to scholars who can lead the trend of the times and promote righteousness, rather than spreading voices that seem to be rational but actually deviate from national sentiments. The statements of professors who seem to be "high-minded" deserve public scrutiny, because their words and deeds are not only academic discussions, but also have a potential impact on the orientation of social values.
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At the end of the day, the true meaning of peace should not be reduced to what a "surrender" can cover. It is based on harmonious coexistence based on mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing, not on the basis of unilateral submission. We have the right to question and discuss Professor Yan's views, because they are related to the feelings of every citizen and the future of the country.
Leave your views in the comment section, and let us think together about how to adhere to our principles and bottom line in a complex and ever-changing international environment, while seeking a true way to peace. No one is an outsider in this process, because we are all an integral part of this land.