（SINGAPORE, 02.06.2025 ）A graduation speech by a female Chinese student Jiang Yurong (蒋雨融) at Harvard University’s commencement ceremony on May 29 drew praise from many Western media and liberals, as well as nationalistic Chinese on both sides of the Pacific. But she also attracted brickbats, with some very toxic ones coming from an unexpected quarter – Shen Yi (沈逸), one of China’s most rabidly patriotic and controversial professor who teaches international politics in Fudan University.
Graduating with a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on international development, Jiang emphasized in her speech that shared humanity is very important now as political and cultural divisions beset the world, which many attribute to the policies of US President Donald Trump. Without mentioning his name, Jiang apparently took a swipe at the politician who has vowed to “aggressively” revoke Chinese students’ visas and has moved on Harvard.
As multitude of foreign students in the US, particularly those from China, face the possibility of deportation, Jiang advocated for stronger academic collaboration between China and the US to tackle global issues together. Her words echoed the frequent call for unity of humanity by Beijing.
This first graduation speech by a Chinese woman at Harvard was met with standing ovation. “A day after her emotional speech at Harvard University’s commencement, Yurong ‘Luanna’ Jiang kept running into classmates who praised her message that people should see everyone’s common humanity rather than demonize others for their differences,” the Associated Press noted.
Back in China, many nationalistic Chinese were elated that one of their own had spoken at a privileged event in US, promoting the global vision of the Chinese government. “’Chinese people are showcasing China’s confidence to the world! Go forward, comrades in arms!’ reported the news site qingdao.dzwww in Qingdao city of Shandong province, the native town of Jiang. “Netizens are all giving Jiang a thumbs-up and cheering for her.”
However, not everyone in China is pleased that the 25-year-old was hoisted into fame. Many dug up her background and said she is not representative of Chinese students. “She is a privileged red (communist) second-generation scion out to whitewash the regime,’’ one netizen wrote.
“She is the daughter of Jiang Zhiming (蒋志明), executive director of a special fund under the state-backed China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF). She was recommended for admission to Harvard by Zhou Jinfeng (周晋峰), vice chairman and long-time secretary-general of the foundation, who cited her long-standing volunteerism with its international department. According to a report, when Jiang Yurong learned of his daughter’s acceptance by Harvard in 2022, Jiang Zhiming specifically expressed his gratitude to Zhou. Truly the Harvard backdoor way,” another wrote.
But the fiercest barrage came surprisingly from Shen Yi, the professor of Fudan University whose recent rant in a claim that Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tried to frighten China by suggesting retaliatory tariffs against the US might lead to war went viral and reinforced his notoriety.
“She is actually a scapegoat pushed to the fore by Harvard to speak for the White Leftism. She brainlessly accepted this assignment and thought she could speak high-mindedly on high-flown ideals,” Shen blustered when interviewed by a Chinese media from New Zealand, pointing to Jiang’s empty emphasis on common humanity which would only annoy America’s prevailing rightists and does not help advance anything constructive.
He claimed that Harvard would finally work out an agreement with President Trump’s government on the expulsion of foreign students, among whom Chinese students with alleged links to the Chinse Communist Party are the most targeted. “Jiang’s speech would convince the Americans that Harvard and the US government have legitimate ground to zero in on Chinese students.”
He also faulted Jiang for her “flawed English enunciation and script”, citing these as proofs that she was chosen by people with an axe to grind. “She is up there to be exposed and reveal her and other Chinese students’ connections to China’s privileged class.”
Shen went on to call CBCGDF a false environmentalist group associated with the US which helps spy on China’s military installations. “Jiang is just a talking head, she is even dressed in a way neither Chinese nor Western, going up there for the sole purpose of striking an emotional chord with America’s White Leftists.
“White leftist” is a term used in China to satirize white liberals in Europe and North America who hold ultra-liberal or progressive views. President Trump is a right-winger who emphasizes national interests, strict border policies, traditional family values, opposition to illegal immigration, and resistance to “excessive political correctness.” These ideas are in serious conflict with the values of the “white left,” such as open borders, cancel culture, gender diversity, and racial equity.
