Recently, a group of military-backed academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering have been expelled by the Chinese Communist Party, leading some to speculate that it may be related to the recent US airstrikes on Iran, which exposed the failure of Chinese-made systems. However, the latest viewpoint suggests that these academicians may also be involved in research fraud, fund embezzlement, and the buying and selling of the title of academician.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, referred to as the “Two Academies”, have seen 10 military-backed academicians expelled since 2024. Apart from missile expert Xiao Longxu from the Rocket Army Research Institute expelled in October 2024, the other nine have been dismissed in recent months. They include ballistic missile weapon expert Cao Jianguo, former director and chief engineer of China Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Group 711 Institute Jin Donghan, Chief Engineer Luo Qi from the Nuclear Industry Group, Director Liu Cangli from the China Academy of Engineering Physics, radar expert Wu Manqing, missile guidance control expert Wei Yiyin, nuclear weapons engineering expert Zhao Xiangeng, J-20 fighter chief designer Yang Wei, and high-power microwave expert Liu Guozhi.
Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in an article on April 3 in Taiwan’s media “Up Post” that the main reason for the investigation of these 10 academicians should still be their own corruption, which may be connected to the recent investigations of military giants. Another direct reason for the investigation of the military academicians is the issue of poor quality weapons and equipment affecting combat capability, necessitating a probe into research fraud.
The author cites the famous “Hanxin” incident that occurred over 20 years ago.
In 2003, Professor Chen Jin from Shanghai Jiaotong University claimed to have developed the high-performance “Hanxin-1” DSP chip (later released Hanxin-2 to Hanxin-5), which was actually a Motorola chip purchased in the United States. The team deceived research funding of over 100 million yuan by erasing the original markings and replacing them with a “Hanxin” logo. At that time, academicians such as Zou Shichang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xu Juyan from the Chinese Academy of Engineering endorsed “Hanxin”.
In 2011, Deputy Minister of the General Logistics Department of the PLA, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhou Guotai, publicly announced the invention of a high-energy nickel-carbon supercapacitor, claiming it as a breakthrough in electric vehicle power. However, this invention was questioned as a money-making tool, reminiscent of the “Hanxin” incident. Zhou Guotai fell from grace in October 2015.
Du Zheng believes that based on the “Hanxin” incident, it is not difficult to imagine that the 10 academicians removed in the past three years may also be involved in research fraud. The military industry, touted by the Chinese Communist Party as so-called “national strategic weapons”, has produced many pieces of equipment that are like paper mache, unable to withstand actual combat.
Du Zheng believes that the dismissal of the 10 military academicians may also indicate that the authorities are investigating the long-standing problem of “buying and selling of academic titles” while clearing up corruption in the military and military industrial complex.
It is said that the academician system established by the Chinese Communist Party imitates Western countries but serves a different purpose. In China, reaching the level of academician often brings “name, profit, and pleasure” because they are authorities in their field, essentially receiving various benefits in the field, including money and women.
Du Zheng revealed that he has a friend in China who is the office manager of a large private group, where they have a public relations team composed entirely of women, often tasked with special missions. For instance, when they needed to start a new drug project, they invited an elderly academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences as a figurehead, and the boss treated him on his yacht and used women to manage the academician, ensuring the project progressed smoothly.
Becoming an academician also comes with a significant income. Every new selection brings intense behind-the-scenes competition, with individuals aspiring to be academicians having to bribe influential nominators and recommenders.
In May 2023, Chinese biologist Rao Yi publicly disclosed the dark secrets of the election of academicians by the two academies, stating that “since this century, every round has seen candidates directly giving money to voting academicians…”. The article was later deleted.
Du Zheng believes that the 10 academicians removed in the past three years were all elected earlier in this century, indicating that they may have bought their academic titles during their candidacy.
In 2015, an article published by the official Chinese media titled “Building Relationships, Pulling Votes – A Detailed Look at the Selection Process of Academicians” revealed that units and provinces would secretly “work” to support candidates for academicians, incurring substantial expenses.
As for how much money it takes to become an academician, the exact amount is unclear to the public, but Du Zheng cited estimates claiming that obtaining an academician title requires tens of millions of yuan. This price is affordable for those seeking the title, especially leaders of state-owned enterprises. Once acquiring the title through monetary means, these academicians would profit extensively by accepting bribes, especially to assist aspiring academicians in their election campaigns. This opens up opportunities for corruption, such as embezzling funds in military research and development projects.
In March of this year, as a group of academicians were being removed, several elderly academicians coincidentally passed away due to “ineffective treatment for illness”: Sun Yu, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a communications technology expert, passed away in Beijing on March 20 at the age of 89; Li Youping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an electronics and communications technology expert, passed away in Beijing on March 25 at the age of 91; Wei Zhengyao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a military information technology expert, passed away in Beijing on March 24 at the age of 90; Wu Dexin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a scientist in microelectronics, passed away in Beijing on March 23 at the age of 90.
Du Zheng speculates that while these academicians were elderly, high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party have privileged medical treatment and would not easily succumb to illness. The sudden and simultaneous deaths of these academicians, though physically incapacitated, raise suspicions especially since they were involved in recommending other academicians and receiving sizable bribes. Their deaths might stem from being questioned by the authorities for their past actions concerning promotions and recommendations, leading to health deterioration ultimately causing their deaths.
Du Zheng concludes by stating that the collective removal of so many military-related academicians confirms suspicions of potential research fraud among them, and the academicians who were not removed may not be entirely clean either. Xi Jinping’s claims of sparing no effort to build a globally leading technological power and a “strong military” are mere empty words!
China expert at the Hudson Institute, Mo Chun Yu, wrote recently in the “Washington Times” that the Chinese Communist Party has long relied on imitating US military technology but has failed to break through in materials and precision, exposing fatal shortcomings. Facing this dilemma, rather than enhancing technological capabilities, the Chinese Communist Party opted for Stalinist-style purges, which are bewildering!
The article points out that whenever the US military showcases groundbreaking technological advantages over the years, the Chinese Communist Party quickly imitates. However, these imitative research and development efforts, limited by engineering precision and materials science, have extremely limited effectiveness. From the recent US capture of Maduro, to the precise decapitation of the Iranian leadership through military actions, Chinese military capabilities have rendered ineffective. Yet, upon discovering the military capability gap, instead of catching up, the Chinese Communist Party immediately commenced a purge of numerous military experts, some having their titles revoked, some imprisoned, and some even mysteriously passing away.
Renowned Chinese expert in aeronautical engines, Professor Yan Hong from Northwestern Polytechnical University’s School of Power and Energy, passed away on the afternoon of March 24 at the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital at the age of 57 due to ineffective treatment for illness. Professor Yan had previously served as the director of the Fluid Dynamics Key Laboratory of Aerospace Engine Internal Flow of Shaanxi Province.
Senior commentator from Canada, Xue Sheng, questioned on X platform that the school’s obituary did not disclose the nature of Yan Hong’s illness or how long he had been sick. Yan Hong had been working in Xi’an for years but passed away in Jiangsu. Did he suddenly fall ill during a business trip? Or was he transferred to Jiangsu for some form of “abnormal isolation” due to particular reasons? His untimely death as a schoolmate of the chief designer of the J-20 fighter jet, Yang Wei, raises suspicions.
—
This rewritten and translated article provides detailed information on the recent expulsion of military-backed academicians in China, shedding light on potential research fraud, corruption, and the buying and selling of academic titles within the academic circles. The included speculation and expert opinions bring the reader deeper insight into the complex issues surrounding the academic world in China.