China's Search Engines Censor Searches for Scholar Who Questioned Education Minister's Anti-Western Values Stance

On January 29, 2015, Xinhua published a report entitled "Yuan Guiren: University Instructors Must Comply with the Bottom Lines of Politics, Law, and Ethics." (袁贵仁:高校教师必须守好政治、法律、道德三条底线) Some excerpts:

On January 29, at a meeting to study the spirit of the “Opinion Regarding Further Strengthening and Improving Propaganda and Ideology Work in Higher Education Given New Circumstances," Minister of Education Yuan Guiren stated that university instructors must comply with the bottom lines of politics, law, and ethics.
. . . .
Yuan Guiren pointed out that in order to implement the "Opinion" in a practical manner, it is necessary to strengthen controls over the ideological battlefield at institutions of higher learning, and in particular to strengthen controls over the creation of teaching materials and in-class instruction. Strengthen controls over how Western-derived teaching materials are used, and under no circumstances allow into our classrooms any teaching materials that spread Western value systems. Under no circumstances permit any discussion that attacks or defames the Party's leaders or smears socialism to take place in college classrooms. Under no circumstances permit any discussion that violates the Constitution or laws to spread in college classrooms. Under no circumstances permit instructors to grouse and complain in the classroom, or inculcate a bad mood amongst the student body.
. . . .
At the same time, take the initiative in keeping a hold over online discussion, and do a good job of building and managing campus Internets. . . . Take as your first and foremost criteria mastery of that which is political and assemble cohorts of ideology propagandists at institutions of higher learning.

教育部部长袁贵仁２９日在教育部学习贯彻《关于进一步加强和改进新形势下高校宣传思想工作的意见》精神座谈会上表示，高校教师必须守好政治底线、法律底线、道德底线。
. . . .
袁贵仁指出，《意见》的贯彻落实要加强高校意识形态阵地管理，特别是加强教材建设和课堂讲坛管理。加强对西方原版教材的使用管理，绝不能让传播西方价值观念的教材进入我们的课堂；决不允许各种攻击诽谤党的领导、抹黑社会主义的言论在大学课堂出现；决不允许各种违反宪法和法律的言论在大学课堂蔓延；决不允许教师在课堂上发牢骚、泄怨气，把各种不良情绪传导给学生。
. . . .
同时掌握网络舆论的主动权，建好管好用好校园网络。。。。把政治上过硬作为第一标准，选配好高校宣传思想工作队伍。

On January 31, 2015, a text began appearing on the Internet under the title "Beijing University Professor Shen Kui's Three Questions to Minister of Education Yuan Guiren: The 4th Plenum of the 18th Party Congress Called for Governing the Country in Accordance with the Constitution and the Law, and Your  January 29 Speech has Left People Confused Beyond Comprehension." (北大教授沈岿三问袁贵仁部长：中国共产党十八届四中全会大力倡导依宪治国、依法治国之际，您在1月29日的讲话却令人大惑不解。)

Here is the text of the questions:

First, how to differentiate "Western values" from "Chinese values"? As everyone knows, it was only after it crossed the seas that the specter of Communism, which haunted Europe over the preceding two centuries, could give birth to the Chinese Communist Party. Our current Constitution stipulates we must adhere to Marxism, that we must carry forward the teachings of Internationalism, Communism, dialectical materialism, and historical materialism, and all these originated in the West and have influenced China. There are countless examples where the East has learned from the West. Respectfully  Minister Yuan, may I request that you clearly delineate the line between "Western values" and "Chinese values?" 

Second, how to differentiate between "attacking or defaming the Party's leaders or smearing socialism" and "reflecting on the crooked road that the Party has taken, and bringing to light dark realities?" There is no governing political party that would dare to claim that it has never committed and will never commit mistakes. There is no society, regardless of whether it goes by the name "socialist" or "capitalist," that would dare to claim that it is a society without any dark side whatsoever. Respectfully Minister Yuan, may I request that you provide clear criteria for differentiating between "attacking" and "reflecting," "smearing" and "enlightening?" 

Third, how will the Ministry of Education that you lead carry out the principles of ruling the country in accordance with the Constitution and laws? If you yourself already have clear and easily understood answers to the two preceding questions, then I would ask that you make another speech at the appropriate time. If you yourself cannot answer those questions without equivocation, then I would ask that in the future you exercise discretion, because the Ministry of Education that you lead has implications for "the scientific and cultural level of the entire country" (Constitution Article 19), for "natural and social science undertakings," (Constitution Article 20), and for citizens' exercise of their "freedom to conduct scientific research, engage in literary and artistic endeavors, and other cultural activities."  (Constitution Article 47) When all is said and done, it implicates the rejuvenation of the Chinese people. If you are capricious in expounding on what can and cannot be done, if there is even the slightest lack of caution, there exists the possibility that the Constitution and laws may be violated. 

第一，如何区分“西方价值”和“中国价值”？众所周知，近两个世纪前游荡在欧洲的共产主义幽灵“跨洋过海”来到中国后，才促成中国共产党的诞生；我国现行宪法规定必须坚持的马克思主义，必须进行的国际主义、共产主义、辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义等的教育，也是源于西方，影响中国的。西学东渐的例子数不胜数，请教袁部长，是否可以请您清晰划出“西方价值”和“中国价值”的分界线？
第二，如何区分“攻击诽谤党的领导、抹黑社会主义”和“反思党曾经走过的弯路、揭露黑暗现实”？没有任何政党，敢于宣布自己是从不会也永远不会犯错，也没有任何社会，无论是姓“社”还是姓“资”，敢于宣称自己是没有任何黑暗面的社会。请教袁部长，是否可以请您清晰给出“攻击”与“反思”、“抹黑”与“揭露黑暗”的区别标准？
第三，如何让您领导的教育部贯彻执行依宪治国、依法治国的方针？如果您本人对以上两个问题已有明显易懂的答案，还请您适时发表另外一次讲话；如果您本人尚无明确答案，还请您以后谨言慎行，因为您所领导的教育部，关系到“全国人民的科学文化水平”（宪法第19条），关系到“自然科学和社会科学事业”（宪法第20条），关系到公民进行“科学研究、文学艺术创作和其他文化活动的自由”（宪法第47条），归根结底，关系到中华民族的复兴。您如果轻言什么可为、什么不可为，稍有不慎，就会存在触犯宪法、法律的可能性。

On February 1, 2015, the website of the Communist Youth League published an article by one of its commentators entitled "Shen Kui Knew the Answers to His Three Questions Before He Asked Them" (“沈岿三问”是明知故问). Some excerpts:

In recent days, Minister of Education Yuan Guiren has become a hot topic on private media. The reason is that an article entitled "Beijing University Professor Shen Kui's Three Questions to Minister Yuan" has been spreading far and wide, and quite a few people have joined in the troublemaking. After reading the essay we can put aside for the moment who asked and who was being asked, and just look at these three questions, which are entirely an exercise in empty rhetoric.
If you know the answers, why would you ask the questions? The simple answer is because you harbor evil intent.
. . . .
The three bottom lines are simply politics, law, and ethics. The four requirements are, to put it plainly, simply mandating support for the Party's leadership and the socialist path. As for the standing of these requirements, we believe that every country has its basic bottom lines. To engage in in-depth question of of these is like engaging in in-depth questioning as to why the American President must oppose terrorism, or why British people must pledge loyalty to the Queen.
 . . . .
Posing these questions is feigning ignorance. For example, how to differentiate Wester values and Chinese values, this is obviously a case of "If you try to reason with him he will play word games with you." This is not a discussion based on good intent, much less an academic exploration. This is digging, negating, and challenging.
As for problems in the area of ideology, the fact that we are seeing viewpoints such as the "three questions" popping up on private media only goes to show that we must increase our efforts on, and get a better grasp of, ideological issues. Discussion of the bottom lines will not be tolerated. 

这几天，在自媒体上，教育部部长袁贵仁成了热点。原因是有篇题为《北大教授沈岿三问袁部长》的文章流传甚广，不少人跟着起哄。读完这篇文章，谁问，以及问谁，我们先放一边，单看这三个问题，完全是明知故问。
明知为何故问？无非包藏祸心。
. . . .
三条底线，无非是政治、法律和道德的底线；四个要求，明说了，无非是要坚持党的领导和社会主义道路。这些层次的要求，相信在任何国家，都是基本底线。对此进行追问，就像追问美国总统为何要反恐，追问英国人为何要效忠女王一样。
. . . .
这些问题，显然是揣着明白装糊涂。譬如如何区分西方价值和中国价值，显然是“你跟他讲道理，他跟你讲语法”。这不是善意的讨论，更不是学术的追问，而是挖坑，否定和挑战。
关于意识形态方面的问题，最近自媒体上有一些看法，譬如“三问”。这只说明，意识形态问题需要加力，需要抓好。底线问题是不容讨论的。

On February 2, 2015, the website of the Communist Youth League published another article by one of its commentators entitled "Whose Ulterior Motives Lie Beneath 'Shen Kui's Three Questions'" (“沈岿三问”项庄舞剑意在谁). Some excerpts:

No one could have imagined that the "Three Questions" could have been circulated so widely. This would be unthinkable in any other country. For example, in America, which supposedly has the most freedom of expression, it is impossible that you would ever see anyone pose a question like "How much would the quality of the country's citizenry be improved if we expelled ten million black people." That would be a violation of the Constitution, and would trip over a bottom line.
. . . .
Rejecting Western values and promoting China's values does not mean being anti-foreign, much less restricting academia. We have always welcomed and embraced advanced culture and technology from the West. Everyone can see how we've comported ourselves during the last 30 years of opening up. University ideology work is not about avoiding what is foreign, it is about not promoting indiscriminate rote mimicry and not rejecting China's values and China's path.
. . . .
Currently, there are certain classrooms where you can find theories about Western constitutional universality, historical nihilism, and the falablity of the leadership. Certain teachers forget where they come from, belittle the Chinese people, place Western universal values on a pedestal, and deny and tear down the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This has already gone beyond what could be considered academic discourse. This is illegal and unconstitutional, and will no longer be tolerated.
. . . .
If universities have problems, then the nation will have problems. We respect academic freedom, but academic freedom is not some basket into which you can throw any kind of thing or motivation. In every country the first and foremost requirement for teachers is ideological quality.
. . . .
A good teacher should be an active disseminator of the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese dream of the great resurgence of the Chinese people. Not the opposite. 

想不到的是，“三问”竟然流传很广。这在其他国家，是不可想象的。打个比方，在所谓言论最自由的美国，类似“驱逐一千万黑人，国民素质能提高多少”这样的提问，是永远都不可能出现的。这是违宪，跌破了底线。
. . . .
拒绝西方价值，弘扬中国价值，绝不是排外，更不是限制学术。对于西方先进的文化和技术，我们从来都是敞开怀抱。改革开放30年，我们的表现大家都看得见。高校宣传思想工作，不是逢外必反，而是不能宣扬必须照搬照抄，否定中国价值和中国道路。
. . . .
现在有个别课堂，西方宪政万能论、历史虚无论、领袖负面论都有出现。一些教师数典忘宗，矮化中华民族，高扬西方普世价值，否定、唱衰中国特色社会主义道路。这已经不在学术范畴，这是违法违宪，不能再被纵容。
. . . .
大学出问题，国家就会出问题。我们尊重学术自由，但学术自由不是一个筐，什么东西什么动机都能往里装。任何国家，对教师的思想素质都是首要要求。
. . . .
好老师应该做中国特色社会主义共同理想和中华民族伟大复兴中国梦的积极传播者，而不是相反。

These screenshots were taken on February 2, and show that Baidu was censoring search results for "Shen Kui Yuan Guiren," (沈岿 袁贵仁), but not for "Shen Kui" or "Yuan Guiren."

These screenshots were taken the same day, and show that Qihoo had blacklisted search results for Shen Kui Yuan Guiren."