Edward Kuperman, a Yale graduate with a deep interest in Chinese culture, was initially celebrated by Chinese state media for his work promoting Dunhuang's heritage. He began as an intern live-streamer at the Dunhuang Culture International Communication Centre (DCICC) in April, where he created videos introducing local attractions and assisting tourists. However, his fortunes changed in July when he was hired by the Dunhuang Convergence Media Centre, a local government outlet. The hiring notice, which showed he was the only foreigner among three new hires, sparked online fury. Critics questioned his qualifications and claimed he received an annual salary of 900,000 yuan ($133,000), leading to accusations that he was a spy, especially after it was revealed he had studied at National Taiwan University and interned at the American Enterprise Institute's Coalition Defence of Taiwan programme.