Sun, May 17, 2026 page8

• Alice Ou is echoing the enemy

  • By Yen Li-chen 顏利真
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  The Taipei First Girls’ High School (TFG) principal’s office has finally responded to a public backlash over recent controversial remarks made in an interview by Chinese literature teacher Alice Ou (區桂芝), who teaches at the school, including “reject all arms procurement” and “peace will come when Taiwanese acknowledge they are Chinese.”

  However, the office’s response was extremely disappointing, as it sidestepped the core issue and exonerated Ou. It emphasized that she was interviewed by Taiwan’s Bang TV (玉山網路電視台) rather than a Chinese media outlet, as Ou faced a backlash for criticizing President William Lai (賴清德) in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) last year. Yet the key issue is not the platform that Ou appeared on, but the substance of her remarks.

  Her latest comments were made on a program hosted by retired air force lieutenant general Chang Yen-ting (張延廷), and the pro-China views she expressed were later republished by CCTV. However, TFG principal Chen Chih-yuan (陳智源) seemed to deliberately miss the forest for the trees, justifying Ou’s actions by saying that the interview was conducted by a Taiwan-based media outlet. This is frankly an insult to the intelligence of Taiwan’s public.

  Knowing the law, but choosing not to apply it, is a form of self-degradation. The Teachers’ Act (教師法) could clearly be invoked here, but school authorities are acting as if nothing happened, shifting the responsibility by saying that they would “seek the legal opinion of the competent educational authority.” This is truly regrettable.

  The letter itself acknowledged that Ou’s remarks have caused “significant public controversy” and “disruption to the school.” If that is the case, should there not be an investigation into the teacher involved? Where is the school affairs committee? What about the teacher evaluation committee? Article 32 of the Teachers’ Act says that teachers have a duty to “uphold the reputation of the educational institution.”

  Additionally, Article 14 of the Teachers’ Act provides that if a teacher has acted in contravention of “any pertinent laws or regulations” and “the matter has been investigated and verified by the educational institution or the authorities concerned” and dismissal or permanent ineligibility are deemed necessary, then such measures could be imposed.

  Has Ou’s conduct not damaged the school’s reputation? Has it not infringed upon “pertinent laws,” such as the National Security Act (國家安全法)? Should such a matter not be referred to the teacher evaluation committee for investigation?

  Even if Chen does not to take the initiative to convene a meeting, Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Teaching Staff Evaluation Committees for High-schools and Further Education Institutions (高級中等以下學校教師評審委員會設置辦法) stipulates that the principal must convene a meeting within five days if more than half of all committee members jointly sign a request to do so. If the principal fails to do this, the signatory members may elect one person among themselves to convene the meeting instead. Therefore, as long as at least half of the committee members sign a petition, a meeting can be convened — rather than allowing the public’s concerns to be dismissed by a single letter from the principal. I sincerely hope that TFG’s teacher evaluation committee would step forward to uphold the professionalism and dignity of teachers.

  TFG’s students are Taiwanese — born and raised in this country — yet Ou insists that they must all refer to themselves as Chinese, even claiming that once they do so, there would be no need to spend even a single dollar on arms procurements. Are Taiwanese Chinese? Is someone who speaks such blatant falsehoods and distorts the truth really fit to be a teacher? Do Ou’s remarks not contravene the Teachers’ Act? By echoing the talking points of a foreign hostile force, do her claims not also contravene the National Security Act? These are the issues that TFG should be “seeking clarification” on.

  Yen Li-chen is a high-school teacher and a director of the Taiwan Teachers’ Union.

  Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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