Chinese university expels student over ‘inappropriate behavior’ with Ukrainian

A university in northeastern China has sparked debate in the country by expelling a student for what it calls “inappropriate behavior” with a Ukrainian e-sports player that allegedly damaged national dignity.

What the school is saying: Dalian Polytechnic University, located in Liaoning province, issued the expulsion notice on July 8, telling the student, “Your inappropriate behavior on December 16, 2024, has caused a severe negative impact.” The university applied disciplinary regulations stating that students engaging in “improper relationships with foreigners that undermine national dignity and the university’s reputation may face a demerit or more serious disciplinary action, depending on the circumstances.” The notice was posted publicly on the university’s website, revealing the student’s full name.

The student and the foreigner: The controversy centers on former Ukrainian “Counter-Strike” professional gamer Danylo Teslenko, nicknamed “Zeus,” who shared videos of himself with the student on his Telegram channel during a December tournament visit to Shanghai. In his posts, Teslenko reportedly referred to the student as an “easy girl.” Video screenshots circulating online also show the pair in a hotel room — with the student appearing aware of being filmed — though no explicit content was displayed. The Ukrainian national later apologized and clarified he was neither married nor in a relationship.

Reactions: Chinese social media users are divided about the student’s expulsion. On Weibo, one blogger with 14 million followers noted that “fawning over foreigners” would never be respectable. On the other hand, Peking University law professor Zhao Hong wrote that “the online spectators who frantically humiliated an ordinary woman under the banner of so-called justice” were the real threat to national dignity. The hashtag “disciplined student should not be publicly shamed” also garnered over 57 million views on Weibo, with many condemning the sharing of the student’s identity and private content as excessive punishment.

The big picture: Beyond the university’s action, the incident unveils tensions over China’s complex relationship with foreigners, particularly given Ukraine’s precarious position amid Beijing’s close ties with Russia. Critics also highlighted gender disparities in public reactions, noting that Chinese men who pursue foreign partners typically face no similar scrutiny. Meanwhile, legal scholars questioned whether the university violated higher education laws and China’s Civil Code provisions protecting personal data.

The student has 60 days to appeal the expulsion decision.