According to a May 8 report in the New York Times, Princeton University's prestigious Chinese language program at Beijing Normal University was attacked by a Chinese academic for "infiltrating American ideology into Chinese Language teaching." As the Times recounted it, "the Princeton-based authors of the teaching materials have always had to adapt their text-book somewhat for use in China. But this year 'was much more unpleasant and specific,' said Professor Chou [of Princeton]. 'And the changes they wanted were extensive and not negotiable. It was basically a threat.'" Indeed, the Chinese university "demanded that Professor Chou delete eight essays entirely and modify large chunks of other lessons before a contract could be signed. Sections on how the growing use of e-mail promotes free speech and the hazards of walking through Beijing traffic had to be dropped."
Princeton's response to the threat? It caved. "Professor Chou . . . is modifying the material and said the program would continue."