I'm not one for turning up my nose to criticising government's like China's but the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others) and if one wants to work there, travel there, and not endanger people there as he has done with his girlfriend's family, then one needs to at least consider the consequences for critical speech and whether they're worth bearing.

> There was also no risk to his GF. At worst, the relationship ends - it's not like the CCP is going to go after her (she did ask him to stop).

I'm not sure why you think being so apparently reasonable is also something her government and its supporters care about?

"...the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others)..."

Including Switzerland, it seems.

> So should he just shut up, then? It's scary if most people feel that way.

If his goal was to complete his studies at the Chinese university or maintain a relationship with his doctoral advisor who has ties to China, or to not make life for his girlfriend and her family difficult, yes.

I don’t agree with the methods of the CCP to silence dissent, but that’s reality. Nothing will change on account of this guy.

> it's not like the CCP is going to go after her

This is not a reasonable assumption and once it's throw out it becomes clear this boy was endangering others as well as himself by doing something ill-advised and unplanned.

“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.”

― Albert Einstein

It sounds very wise, except the person under discussion also did not do anything. He simply spoke poorly and got crushed. That isn't action of any kind, except as a type of suicide.

How do you know there was no risk to the GF? The article mentions she asked him to stop because she feared retaliation.