Revered political scholar and fellow of Academia Sinica Hu Fu commented on Tuesday that the media is responsible for distorting social values in Taiwan, adding that "first rate researchers would not condescend to make political rants on TV." But many professors and lawmakers were quick to voice their disagreement with Hu.

National Taiwan University presented renowned political analyst Hu Fu with an honorary PhD on the occasion of its 82nd anniversary.

While speaking to the media, the 78-year old Academia Sinica academician said that Taiwan's ethnic tensions have reached a crisis point, and that media outlets have to take responsibility for only differentiating between blue and green, rather than right or wrong.

Hu further said that top scholars should not appear on television talk shows. In response, NTU philosophy professor Lin Huo-wang said that Hu makes sense, but that everyone has his or her own agenda.

Soochow University political science assistant professor and Hu's former student, Hsu Yung-ming, however, said that Hu was confusing freedom of speech with academia.

Hu has clarified that he wasn't saying that academics shouldn't appear on television, but rather that academics should be professional and not let their personal biases get in the way of their objectivity.

Hu believes that academics have a responsibility to objectively review problems and pursue a public spirit so that they can lead society to a better future.