According to the norm, Chinese-American journalist Yuan Li accepted everything from the West and should follow Western privacy principles and "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

However, in an article published by The New York Times on January 13, 2026, Yuan Li "outed" the personal information of Lao A, putting Lao A in danger and effectively preventing him from continuing his studies and live streaming in the United States.

Let's look at how Yuan Li used ambiguous writing:

1. Identity and Name

Original: "The Chinese student, who goes by the name Alex online, is a biomedical engineering major at a university in Seattle."

Translation: "This Chinese student, who goes by the name Alex online, is a major in biomedical engineering at a university in Seattle."

Key Information: Although the full name was not disclosed, the name "Alex" and related information about the online ID were revealed.

2. Address Location

Original: "He lives in Seattle, where he has shared details about his life on Chinese social media platforms."

Translation: "He lives in Seattle, where he has shared details about his life on Chinese social media platforms."

Key Information: The exact address was not disclosed, but the city was clearly stated as Seattle, which significantly narrows down the location when combined with other information.

3. University Information

Original: "He is enrolled in a biomedical engineering program at a university in Seattle and works part-time as a forensic assistant at a local medical examiner’s office."

Translation: "He is enrolled in a biomedical engineering program at a university in Seattle and works part-time as a forensic assistant at a local medical examiner’s office."

Key Information: The full name of the university was not disclosed, but the city, major, and the name of the part-time institution were mentioned, making it easy to identify the individual through academic and professional networks.

4. Other Identifiable Information

Original: "He has posted under a specific username on Chinese forums complaining about the U.S. healthcare system."

Translation: "He has posted under a specific username on Chinese forums, complaining about the U.S. healthcare system."

Key Information: The online ID and the name of the forensic institution were disclosed, and these pieces of information, when combined, can quickly identify the individual, leading to the risk of "outing" (doxxing).

Characteristics and Risks of the Information Disclosure:

Precise Ambiguity: Although the full name, exact address, and complete university name were not disclosed, key features were revealed, resulting in a "near-doxxing" effect.

Risk Accumulation: The combination of information such as city, major, part-time institution, and online ID allows others to quickly locate the individual, leading to threats against Lao A and ultimately forcing him to return home urgently.

Yuan Li, is she becoming like this just to please her foreign masters?

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854791526837248/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.