Harvard displaying 'guts, vision and backbone': China Daily editorial

Trying to crack the hard nut of the disobedient Harvard is part of the Donald Trump administration's broader systematic campaign to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions that value their independence to align with its agenda.

In announcing on Thursday the termination of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, effective starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with China. It signals the US administration's de facto purge of any element in US society it deems to be opposing its agenda.

Earlier last week, some US lawmakers wrote to Harvard President Alan Garber, asking the school to explain its ties to the Chinese government and military.

But the baseless China-related allegations only serve to expose the Republican administration is trying to distract public attention from the true cause, which is its attempts to muffle opposition to its biased Middle East policies.

As Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, China has always opposed the politicization of educational cooperation and opposed unwarranted attacks and smears against China.

Harvard's strong opposition to the administration's decision is understandable. The most prominent private academic and cultural institution that was founded in 1636, 140 years earlier than the founding of the US, and a cradle of eight US presidents, firmly believes that at this juncture it is obliged to not only take a stand in defense of its own principles of academic freedom and independence, but also as the conscience of the country.

"With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission," Harvard said in statement.

In a complaint filed in the Boston federal court on Friday, Harvard called the revocation a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws, that had an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.

It is good to see that the court responded to Harvard's appeal positively and promptly. A US district judge, Allison Burroughs, issued a temporary restraining order the same day, freezing the administration's policy that aims to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students.

But the court's move has ratcheted up the White House's efforts to have all institutions conform with the president's policies, including attacking the judge himself.

In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, "unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy".

There will be an injunction hearing on Thursday, a court filing showed. That will be a critical moment that determines whether Harvard can withstand the ongoing wave of attacks.

After some other institutions caved in to the administration's pressure, the legal dispute between Harvard and the Republican administration represents the culmination of the struggle between the two contending forces of liberalism and conservatism in the divided US society.

The US president used the first service academy commencement address of his second term on Saturday to laud graduating West Point cadets for their accomplishments and career choice. But, amid the legal brawl with the most prestigious university of the country, that West Point speech was apparently a beat-around-the-bush call to the younger generation of Americans indicating to them what kind of person the Republican administration would like them to become.

"This is a time of incredible change and we do not need an officer corps of careerists and yes men. We need patriots with guts and vision and backbone," Trump said.

But the administration should be reminded that the "guts, vision and backbone" it calls for to realize its MAGA objective is being demonstrated by Harvard now.