Recently, an alarming development has emerged within the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the name of esteemed academician Guo Shize has reportedly been removed from the official list of all academicians available on the Academy’s website. This significant alteration raises serious concerns and has led to speculation that he may have been formally expelled from this prestigious institution. Guo Shize is a recognized expert in cybersecurity, particularly focusing on issues relating to cyberspace security.
Reports from various Chinese academic media outlets, including the WeChat public account “Zhisheshu Academic Circle,” indicate that as of November 5, the official website of the Chinese Academy of Sciences no longer lists Guo Shize among its members. This information was confirmed by an investigation conducted through the Academician section of the Academy’s official platform, validating the claims that his profile and details have seemingly been erased.
Guo Shize has long been affiliated with the Information Technology Science Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The abrupt removal of his name from the roster has subsequently raised many questions regarding the status of his qualifications and the possible rationale behind this action.
Neither the Chinese Academy of Sciences nor the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China has provided any commentary on this matter. As of now, it remains unclear whether Guo Shize has been officially stripped of his academician title, and if so, what the reasons may be.
Publicly available information reveals that Guo Shize was born 57 years ago in Zibo, Shandong Province. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from a military academy specializing in artillery engineering in 1988 and 1991, respectively. In 1994, he obtained a Ph.D. from Harbin Institute of Technology. Throughout his extensive career, he has concentrated on research in cybersecurity and system safety, earning recognition as an expert in cyberspace security. He has held various significant roles within the military, including Director of a particular research unit at the General Staff Headquarters and Head of a department within the Strategic Support Force.
In 2023, he was elected as an academician of the Information Technology Science Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while still serving as a researcher at a military research center focused on information technology safety. Furthermore, Guo Shize participated in the China Cyberspace Security Conference held in Hefei, Anhui Province, in September of this year.
This move to expel or remove academicians with a military background is not a solitary case; it reflects a broader trend of purging within China’s military equipment and military-industrial sectors. Over the past three years, there have been numerous reports suggesting that at least 12 academicians associated with military backgrounds have been removed from their respective positions.
Among those expelled from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, some notable figures include Liu Guozhi, the former director of the Central Military Commission’s Science and Technology Commission; Yang Wei, who served as the former Deputy General Manager of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and was the chief designer of the J-20 stealth fighter; and Liu Cangli, the former president of the China Engineering Physics Research Institute.
Similarly, the Chinese Academy of Engineering has seen similar expulsions, including prominent individuals such as Xiao Longxu, the former chief engineer and researcher at the Rocket Army Research Institute, and Luo Qi, the former chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation.
These academicians come from various high-tech sectors, including but not limited to high-power microwaves, nuclear armaments, radar technology, and missile guidance control, each recognized as an authority within their respective fields.
This series of events undoubtedly highlights a significant shift and ongoing scrutiny within China’s military and scientific establishments, prompting discussions about the implications for academic freedom and institutional integrity in the face of systemic reforms. As the situation evolves, further insights into this unprecedented purging of leading figures in science and defense will be crucial for understanding its impact on both national security and scientific advancement in China.