Harvard University President Larry Bacow has embarrassed himself, his institution, and his nation by sucking up to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking at Peking University, Bacow described how Harvard and Peking are both universities "where individuals are encouraged both to listen and to speak ... " It wasn't a good choice of words. The "speak" part is obvious, but even the "listen" element of that quote carries a sickening irony.

After all, Peking University is now led by Qiu Shuiping, a senior officer in China's foremost intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security. You can bet that Qiu was listening to Bacow and rubbing his hands with glee as Bacow promised to strengthen links with this Chinese intelligence cutout.

Bacow's delusions didn't end there. He also proclaimed his happiness that China is with him in "defending academic values that transcend the boundaries of any one country." This is Monty Python-level absurdity.

Xi's strategic imperative is the overt and covert seizure of U.S. knowledge — not to build China's businesses, but to build a new world order that subjugates global freedoms to Beijing's authoritarian rule. That is why Xi uses organizations such as Huawei to steal U.S. intellectual property and then to attack U.S. interests. That is why Xi is so happy to welcome Bacow with open arms. That Bacow doesn't recognize this reality is a damning indictment of his leadership. Like Google, he's putting China before his own country.

But at least Bacow can take pride in getting some positive local press. In a glowing editorial on Thursday, China's Global Times, a state propaganda outlet, saluted Bacow for "noting that Harvard will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation with Chinese educational and scientific research institutions." Lovely.