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Wuhan University issued a statement on Friday following the recent first-instance verdict in the widely discussed case involving a student surnamed Yang and a student surnamed Xiao involving an alleged sexual harassment, saying that the university formed a special working group to thoroughly re-examine the disciplinary action involving Xiao and the academic issues related to Yang's thesis.

The case has sparked significant public attention across China, particularly around issues of campus disciplinary procedures and the protection of student rights.

In the statement, the university emphasized its full respect for the judicial ruling and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding students' legal rights and physical and mental well-being. The school also expressed sincere gratitude to the public for its concern, oversight, and criticism.

"The university attaches great importance to the issues that have drawn widespread public concern," the statement read. "We have formed a special working group to thoroughly re-examine the disciplinary actions involving Xiao and the academic issues related to Yang's thesis."

The university pledged to base its handling of the matter strictly on facts and to proceed in accordance with university regulations and academic standards. The outcome of this internal review is expected to address the growing public scrutiny over how allegations of misconduct are dealt with in Chinese higher education institutions.

A highly publicized sexual harassment case at Wuhan University, which began in 2023, has concluded with a court ruling in favor of the accused student, according to media reports.

The incident originated on July 11, 2023, when a female student surnamed Yang, enrolled in the 2017 cohort of Wuhan University's School of Economics and Management, alleged in an online post that she had been sexually harassed while studying in the university library.

She accused a male student surnamed Xiao from the School of Foreign Languages and Literature of "sexually inappropriate behavior," claiming he sat across from her and engaged in repeated movements that resembled rubbing his genitals through his pants.

Yang's post gained significant attention online and led to a wave of public condemnation and cyberattacks against Xiao.

On October 13, 2023, just two days after the allegations surfaced, the university's student affairs office issued a disciplinary notice, stating that the university had decided to give Xiao, an undergraduate student from the 2022 cohort, a demerit.

"Wuhan University maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward disciplinary violations and will never tolerate confirmed misconduct," it said.

However, Xiao's family later publicly contested the university's decision. They explained that Xiao had long suffered from atopic dermatitis, and that during the time in question, a heat-induced eczema flare-up on his legs had caused severe itching. They presented medical records from 2021 to 2023 showing diagnoses of skin rashes and lesions on his upper thighs, as well as facial eczema.

Further documentation showed that after the public accusations, Xiao was diagnosed with acute stress reaction at Wuhan Mental Health Center on October 17, 2023, and was admitted for treatment.

In June 2024, Yang filed a civil lawsuit against Xiao in People's Court of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, claiming that his actions had seriously violated her dignity and harmed her mental well-being.

On July 25, 2025, the court issued its first-instance ruling, rejecting all of Yang's claims. The court determined that Xiao's behavior in the library did not constitute sexual harassment, stating that "the possibility of him scratching an itch is highly likely." The court also noted that the incident took place in a public setting, with no communication between the two parties and no evidence of sexually suggestive or provocative intent.

After the verdict was announced, Yang stated on social media that she had been "admitted to a master's program without entrance exams, passed the national judicial examination, and would pursue a PhD at Hong Kong Baptist University." She also declared her intention to continue filing complaints against Xiao to hinder his future prospects.

Her remarks sparked a strong public backlash, and many began to question whether the disciplinary action taken by Wuhan University against Xiao in October 2023 was appropriate.

Many voices online have accused the female student of making a false allegation, and have dug up numerous errors and suspected AI-generated content in her master's thesis, raising doubts about possible academic misconduct.

Zhang Pingwen, president of Wuhan University, which has come under intense public discussion in recent days, told Chinese media Economic Observer late Thursday that the university is addressing an incident involving the dismissal of a student's sexual harassment complaint as the latest ruling marks the end of a case that has sparked extensive debate in China over the handling of sexual harassment complaints, the burden of proof, and the protection of both accusers and the accused.

As for when the results of the handling will be made public, the university president said it will depend on arrangements from higher authorities, according to the Economic Observer.