Top Chinese university expels economist who champions free speech

Published January 13, 2015

An outspoken economist at an elite Chinese university says the school has voted to terminate his employment contract, months after rumors began spreading that he faced expulsion.

The move against Peking University Prof. Xia Yeliang, who has championed free speech and the rule of law, comes as China's new leadership tightens controls on public discourse. Party authorities have reportedly issued a directive that bars certain topics from discussion in college classes, including press freedom, judicial independence and civil society.

Xia said he was notified on Friday by officials of the School of Economics that a faculty committee had voted 30-3 with one abstention not to renew his contract after Jan. 31.

Calls to the university rang unanswered.

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