在华外籍师生有“超国民待遇”?
文 / 联合早报网综合整理
6/22/2021
中国浙江宁波高校发生令人发指的命案，触发大批中国网民口诛笔伐的核心问题是，涉案男子是名曾被多次投诉却依然被校方保留职务的美籍黑人外教，而学校在案件发生后试图撇清关系、封锁消息的做法更招惹骂名。
舆论风向迅速从案件本身转向外籍师生在中国享有“超国民待遇”这个老话题。《环球时报》总编辑胡锡进18日在微博发文，在指出外籍身份无法成为避罚的保护伞之余，也提醒：“舆论第一时间对案情的关注应避免聚焦到犯罪嫌疑人的国籍和肤色上，那样的话有可能在国际舆论场上引起反弹，因此任何成熟的社会都不会鼓励那样的关注方向。”
不过，网民众怒难灭，有的呼吁立刻将涉案外教处死，有的辱骂在华黑人并声称“自己就是种族歧视”，但大多数网民还是批评校方在此事件上“一个态度都没有”，并指中国高校崇洋媚外严重，外籍师生多年来享受特殊待遇。
女伴风波再被提起
于是，中国一些高校给外籍生配女学伴（buddy）的事再被提起。山东大学2019年曾因给外籍留学生招募女学伴成为众矢之的，一些网民披露，类似的安排仍存在于其他高校。
山东大学的学伴项目在2019年7月6日被一名微博网民曝出。该网民称，山东大学有个给留学生配学伴的制度，从2017年的一对一配对，改革为2018年的每个留学生配三个学伴，大部分以女生为主。
该校在学伴报名表中，还特别强调学伴的性别，将“结交外国异性友人”列为选���之一，在表头用红字注明：“请同学们尽可能详细认真的填写，以便为你匹配心仪的学伴”。
后来有曾在山东大学做过学伴的女生发文说，一些家境不好的女生给外籍生当学伴可换取补助。她曾与其他女学伴陪外籍学生参与聚会，她的一名朋友被强行劝酒甚至暴力对待等，后来两人在挣扎中逃离。
文章说：“那年的学校补助我和那女生没有得到，而那些没有回来的女伴读生，有几个两三个月后去医院打胎了，当时全校的人都有所耳闻。”“但我们不能反抗，因为学校的立场明显站在他们（外国留学生）那边，我们能安全地毕业，已经是学校网开一面了。”
当时一些网民将学伴制度狠批为“慰安妇制度”，有人挖出山东大学2018年曾让25名学生陪护一名在交通意外中受伤的留学生，给事件火上浇油。
该事件以山东大学官方微博于2019年7月13日发表道歉声明告一段落。《人民日报》隔日发评论指出，改革开放走过四十多年，中国已习惯平视世界，许多“特别待遇”不见了。有朋自远方来不亦乐乎，不卑不亢才是最好的尊重。争创双一流之路，终究由文化自信铺就。
女伴等特殊待遇仍存在？
不过，有网民指出，2019年山东大学的学伴事件至今仍在不少高校上演。
有网民爆料，四川成都电子科技大学本月10日在端午节举行传统文化体验活动时，仅邀请男性留学生和中国女生参加，并有图片为证。此外，网上一张河北师范大学课堂照片显示，每名男性外籍留学生身旁有一两名中国女大学生相伴，引发争议。但两所学校都指这是别有用心的人歪曲事实。
除了女学伴这种暧昧的安排外，一些高校还被指给外籍留学生更好的宿舍待遇。河南科大学的一些学生本月中就抱怨，宿舍没空调（冷气），在40度高温下酷热难耐，很多同学中暑送院，但同校的留学生则享有设备齐全的“豪华宿舍”。
一名学生称：“同一栋楼内，一二层的留学生的寝室电器齐全，配置空调和热水器。但是国内学生所住的三四层就只是在天花板上装着一个小小的风扇。”网上的视频显示，学生在宿舍楼集体喊口号，要求校方装空调。
事实上，中国不少网民多年来都在批评外籍留学生在中国享有的特殊待遇，指中国一些高校或是提供高额的奖学金，或是降低入学门槛，或是提供优于国内学生的生活条件，或是在学习和考试上大开方便之门等。
被誉为中国民办教育家的新东方集团创始人俞敏洪，今年4月在一场节目中表示，中国历来是友好之邦，更容易看重外来客人。但是当中国的大学生发现，外国留学生所有的待遇都比自己好的时候，这也是一种失衡。他认为，对外国留学生应一视同仁，不应超本国学生待遇。
除了外籍学生，在中国高校、培训机构的外籍教师的待遇也不错。一篇题为《比到中国留学更幸福的，是来当外教》的文章称：“年薪近60万（人民币，12万4800新元），享受住房伙食补贴、保险等福利，汇率有变化还可能涨工资，把这样的酬劳摆出来，估计没有人会觉得这是国内一名普通教师能拥有的待遇。”
搜狐用户“内蒙古小寇”在2019年发布的一篇文章中称，中国自从加入世界贸易组织以来，在全国范围内迎来学习英语热潮，随之外教职业应运而生，并且受到了各大学校热捧，也逐渐成为学校实力的象征，很多外教“拿着近乎十倍的工资，不但无所作为，而且败坏着学校的风气，而学校却任意妄为。”
回看宁波高校命案，网上流传信息显示，上过涉案男子课的一名网民指他“上课很水”，并曝他和一名中国女子结婚后出轨，在学校总是搭讪女生。校方收到学生投诉后只是将其转到另一个学院。这些信息如果属实，足见校方对这名外教的容忍度极高。
为何要吸引外籍师生
在中国的外籍师生享有哪些具体的“超国民待遇”众说纷纭，但一个不争的事实是，中国高校近年确实在努力吸引外籍师生。这主要有两个原因。
首先是高校自己的国际化指标。中国高校如果要想在国际大学排名中晋升，成为国际名校，学校的国际化程度就是一个重要的指标。
以泰晤士世界大学排名为例，高校的国际师资、国际学生数量就是非常重要的考核指标。校方为了在这方面达标，不惜花重金吸引外籍师生。
也有分析认为，中国政府通过奖学金等激励方式吸引外籍留学生，是希望这些学生回国后能分享在中国的经历，讲“中国故事”，从而扩大中国在国际舞台的文化影响力。
但无论如何，外籍师生在中国院校受到优待本已让另一些人心里不平衡，若再“犯事”自然引起众怒，学校越想息事宁人，就越会招惹更多的指骂。
值得注意的是，此事件掀起对“超国民待遇”的批评、对外籍师生的声讨，要比以前猛烈。这放在中国近两年在国际与外交舞台上更“硬气”的姿态或许有关。
然而，随着中国政府近日提倡“努力塑造可信可爱可敬的中国形象”“讲好中国故事，传播好中国声音”，校方与官方要如何回应此次高校命案，以及网民怒批的“超国民待遇”，确实是个难题。
宁波高校外教杀害女学生引发众怒 网民呼吁严惩 不让外籍身份成罪犯“护身符”
来自 / 联合早报 | 文 / 杨丹旭
6/20/2021
作者：杨丹旭
受害者是宁波工程学院一名23岁的大三学生，涉案外籍人士是该校一名美籍黑人外教，案发前曾追求这名女生。有网民爆料，涉案外教此前曾因骚扰女生被投诉，但学校仍保留了其职务。这起刑事案引起中国民众众怒，大量网民要求“杀人偿命”。
中国浙江宁波发生高校外教杀害女学生的骇人命案，引发舆论极度愤怒。中国网民呼吁官方严惩罪犯，不让外籍身份成为罪犯逃脱法律制裁的“护身符”。
宁波鄞州公安分局前天（6月18日）通报，破获一起涉外刑事案件。通报称，警方在6月14日晚上10时接报，鄞州区通途路世纪大道附近树林中发生命案，一名女性被害。警方在次日凌晨抓获一名外籍男性犯罪嫌疑人。据犯罪嫌疑人供述称，因感情纠纷行凶，案件正在进一步侦办中。
根据网上传开的疑似死者父亲发的长文叙述，受害者是宁波工程学院一名23岁的大三学生，涉案外籍人士是该校一名美籍黑人外教，案发前曾追求这名女生。
该文也称，家属要求学校给一个说法，但学校称案件在受害者离开学校时发生，学校没有责任，只能向家属退还学费，建议家长走法律程序。
有网民爆料，涉案外教此前曾因骚扰女生被投诉，但学校仍保留了其职务。也有网民称，命案发生后，学校对外封锁消息，禁止学生在社交媒体上谈论案件。
这起恶劣的刑事案引起中国民众众怒，大量网民要求官方严惩凶手、“杀人偿命”，呼吁执法机关不因嫌疑人是外籍人士而网开一面。
重庆市协和心理顾问事务所所长谭刚强受访时向《联合早报》指出：“民众因为过去的一些经验，以及官方之前在处理这类案件时，因外交、当下时局等原因不公开、不透明，会担心违法者不被严惩，质疑法律的严肃性。”
“超国民待遇”常受争议
在华外国人在执法机关面前的“超国民待遇”不时受争议。2019年一名在福州的留学生骑电动车时因违规载人被交警拦下，该外籍学生五次推搡交警、暴力抗法，警方最后对其进行批评教育，但该处罚被网民质疑太轻。
面对汹涌的网络舆情，鄞州公安分局昨天再发通报称，将严格规范执法，“确保办成铁案”。
法律博主“检者青峰”昨天发文指出，担心凶手靠外国人身份逃脱法律制裁的担心“并无现实基础”，外国人的身份确实是司法机关定罪量刑不得不考虑的因素，但这种影响不是绝对的。但评论不讳言，某些部门在处理涉外事件时，可能存在对外国人身份投鼠忌器“和稀泥”的处理问题。
《环球时报》总编辑胡锡进前天在微博评论指出，外籍的身份完全无法成为那些罪犯逃避惩罚的保护伞，“这一点大家无需怀疑”。
他同时提醒，舆论第一时间对案情的关注应避免聚焦到犯罪嫌疑人的国籍和肤色上，那样的话有可能在国际舆论场上引起反弹，因此任何成熟的社会都不会鼓励那样的关注方向。
外国人“超国民待遇”的老话题也再度浮现，有网民质疑，高校崇洋媚外尤为严重。急于国际化的中国高校近年来积极引入外籍教师和留学生，召来门槛过低、超国民待遇等争议，由此引发的个别事件，也频频刺激中国民众敏感神经。
山东大学两年前被曝给外国留学生配“学伴”，并在报名表格使用“结交外国异性友人”等暧昧表述，陷入舆论风波。
四川成都电子科技大学最近在端午节举行传统文化体验活动，也被质疑仅邀请男性留学生和中国女生参加。不过，校方回应称，相关指责严重歪曲事实。
宁波外教杀害女学生案在社交媒体引起大量讨论，但中国主流媒体并未进行突出报道。
谭刚强分析，中共建党100年庆祝在即，高层强调维稳，相信案件因此被淡化处理。他说：“不过，普通民众仍然会密切关注，尤其是其司法公正问题。”
（记者是《联合早报》北京特派员）
Foreign identity can’t be used as shield to escape punishment in China
By Lu Xue
6/20/2021
A woman on June 14 was murdered in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, East China’s Zhejiang Province. According to an online post purported to be parent of the victim, the victim is a college student in a local university and the alleged suspect is a foreign teacher who lectures at the college where the victim was studying. Local police announced on Saturday that it had arrested a suspect. But it didn’t identify the victim and suspect as a college student and teacher at the local university.
This case has triggered wide public anger in China, with many netizens calling for the death sentence for the foreigner. Some worry that the alleged perpetrator would get a lighter sentence if he is foreign.
Hong Daode, a professor of criminal law at the China University of Political Science and Law, told Global Times on Sunday that such a narrative is a complete misconception. Some people have misled the public in this regard. They tend to compare the results of similar practices by Chinese nationals and their foreign counterparts, believing foreign ones get preferential treatment.
For example, in July 2019, an international student in Fuzhou, East China’s Fujian Province, pushed a police officer who tried to stop him for illegally carrying a person on an electric scooter. This student was released after being criticized, which many citizens considered a very light punishment. They said if it were a Chinese, the punishment would be harder. Such rhetoric may have left many netizens the impression that foreign citizens who commit crimes in China will be given a lighter sentence.
But the fact is foreign nationals in China do not have extraterritorial rights, Hong said. “There is no such thing as a lighter sentence for foreigners who commit crimes in China. The legal provisions and judicial practice of China are absolutely equal to anyone regardless of their nationality, especially for criminal offenders.” Two Canadian citizens producing and trafficking a large amount of drugs were sentenced to death by Chinese courts in 2019 and 2020. Foreign identity cannot be a shield for foreign nationals to escape punishment in China. There is no doubt about that.
With globalization and China’s increasing openness, more and more foreigners arrive in China to seek academic and employment opportunities. Against this backdrop, cases involving foreigners committing crimes in the country have arisen. The public’s attention to the cases should avoid focusing on the nationality of the suspect, but on the cases itself.
Yinzhou police authorities said in bulletin that they will strictly regulate the law enforcement, and ensure to make their case with conclusive evidence. It is expected that Yinzhou police will publish more information related to the case when the investigation progresses, in a bid to dispel the public’s suspicions about the sentencing of foreign suspects.
Furthermore, many netizens appeal for stronger supervision and verification of foreign teachers’ backgrounds in both public and cram schools. Some online posts alleged that the suspect, who was married, had harassed female students several times. If so, the suspect’s basic professional ethics as a teacher must be questioned.
The quality of foreign teachers in China is indeed uneven. Three or four decades ago, when China’s economy was backward, many foreigners were reluctant to come to China. It is rational that the criteria for recruiting a foreign teacher were low. But as the country has witnessed a rapid rise in terms of social and economic development, greater emphasis should be attached to the quality of foreign teachers, instead of quantity. The basic requirement for lecturers in most Chinese universities are PhD holders or above, and the threshold of foreign teachers should keep pace with it. It is hoped that the case, if proved, serves as an opportunity to strengthen the supervision of foreign teachers, to avoid repetition of such a tragedy.
Murder case allegedly committed by foreigner draws attention of Chinese netizens, calling for impartiality
By Global Times
6/20/2021
The murder of a woman by a foreigner in a university in East China’s Zhejiang Province has drawn public outrage, with many Chinese netizens calling for severe punishment and for the fact that he is a foreigner not to be a factor.
Many netizens have expressed regret and pain over the woman’s murder and some have called for impartiality in handling the case as they believe the nationality of the suspect should not be a factor given special treatment and could not be serve as a shield to dodge severe punishment.
The Yinzhou public security bureau in Ningbo first reported the incident on Friday, in which it said the police received a report at 10 pm on June 14 that a woman had been killed in the woods near Shiji Avenue in Yinzhou district of Ningbo. The suspect, a foreign male, was arrested. According to his confession, he murdered the woman over a relationship dispute.
In a second police release on Saturday, the local bureau said they had traced tools discarded by the suspect and objects related to the case.
Higher-level public security organs have attached great importance to the case. The procuratorial organ has stepped in according to law and the bureau will strictly regulate law enforcement to ensure the case is properly handled, the Yinzhou public security bureau said in the latest release.
The police did not reveal which country the foreign national comes from.
According to an online post purported to be parent of the victim, the victim is a college student in a local university and the alleged suspect is a foreign teacher who lectures at the college where the victim was studying. The police didn’t identify the victim and suspect as a college student and teacher at the college.
“In such a horrible and brutal case, the killer should never be given a lighter sentence just because he is a foreigner,” wrote one netizen on China’s Twitter-like social networking platform Sina Weibo.
In the past few years, there have been cases of foreigners receiving supranational treatment in various regions in China, which made this incident involving a crime committed by a foreigner of great interest to the public, observers noted.
Justice will definitely be carried out. This foreigner-related murder case in Yinzhou is a criminal case of serious nature, and the murderer will never escape the severe punishment of Chinese law, observers said.
China’s criminal law provides that foreigners who commit criminal offenses in China’s territory, except those with diplomatic immunity, are directly subject to the disposal of Chinese criminal law.
Global Times
