Yu Minhong, founder of the English-language training institution New Oriental, recently prompted controversy online for claiming in a speech that the depravity of Chinese women has led to the depravity of Chinese men and thereby the whole country. Yu claimed today's women prefer men who make a lot of money, driving Chinese men to become morally corrupt in a bid to increase their wealth.

Yu's remarks have several illogical errors. First, the precondition of Yu's argument that Chinese women are depraved is groundless. The rate of Chinese women's participation in labor has remained at a high level, while women account for 52 percent of university graduates as of 2018, indicating that Chinese women are working harder than ever rather than relying on men to support them.

Second, in Yu's eyes, a woman's choice of husband can determine a country's destiny. But a man's path is not dictated by women but by themselves. They are therefore in control of their own destiny.

Lastly, Yu's assumption that a man capable of making money is automatically morally corrupt is also highly questionable. Possession of wealth doesn't equal immorality. Successful entrepreneurs should be respected as long as their wealth has been acquired through legal channels.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Guangming Daily on November 20)