A fierce public debate has erupted in China over whether English should retain its status as a mandatory subject in schools and universities, with critics arguing the language's heavy weighting in entrance exams — on a par with Chinese and mathematics — unfairly sidelines talented students in science and engineering. Opponents point to the case of Wang Xingxing, founder of robotics firm Unitree, who nearly failed to enter university due to poor English scores despite excelling in science, as evidence that the current system filters out potential STEM talent. Defenders of English, including former Global Times editor Hu Xijin, counter that the language remains essential for global competitiveness, warning that framing the issue in nationalist terms risks triggering damaging ideological disputes at a time when China is seeking to assert itself in science and technology.