China Geological scholar Yang Hengshu recently revealed in an interview video that he was forced to tamper with data during his geological work, as failing to falsify according to requirements would render him unable to submit reports and even risked being dismissed. A professor at a university in Chongqing disclosed to reporters that the Chinese Communist Party controls universities through evaluation, resource allocation, and title approvals, whereby schools fabricate data on employment rates, scientific research achievements, and more for policies and funding, while those who refuse to cooperate may face long-term retaliations.
July 18, this interview video circulated on various overseas social media platforms. Yang Hengshu stated, “If you don’t falsify, you can’t submit the report. I almost got fired for not falsifying. What’s the point of falsifying like this? Complete fabrication. When working under such circumstances, no matter how hard I try as a geologist, it’s like a drop in the ocean. There’s nothing I can do.”
In the video, Yang Hengshu did not specify the exact time, projects involved, or the unit demanding falsification. The public video also did not disclose the shooting time and original platform of the complete interview.
Yang Hengshu’s remarks point to the data compilation and report acceptance process in Chinese geological projects. Geological survey reports involve stratigraphy, structures, mineral distribution, and resource reserves, with the related data possibly used for exploration, mining development, engineering construction, and geological hazard assessments. Once the original data or report conclusions are requested to be modified, subsequent explorations, construction projects, and hazard assessments may also be based on false materials.
Yang Hengshu had participated in geological research in the Western Qinling Mountains and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, publishing numerous papers related to stratigraphy, fault structures, sedimentary basins, and paleontological features between 1988 and 2003, and serving as a researcher in the Sichuan Western Geological Brigade.
Regarding the situation disclosed by Yang Hengshu, a professor at a university in Chongqing named Qin Yang (pseudonym) stated in an interview with Epoch Times that mass falsification to cope with evaluations is not an isolated phenomenon in schools. He said, “Evaluation teams randomly attend classes, check, and ask questions upon arriving at the school, while schools require teachers to memorize uniform data and explanations in advance.”
Recently, science blogger “Geng Xiaoxue” repeatedly reported deans and professors from several Chinese universities for suspected data falsification in academic papers, resulting in investigations by multiple universities and the dismissal of relevant staff. Issues of academic fraud and ineffective internal audits in Chinese universities have once again attracted attention. Qin Yang mentioned that there are many fields within universities where falsification occurs.
Qin Yang revealed, “For evaluations, there is almost comprehensive falsification. Schools compile data according to certain indicators, including annual student employment rates, scientific research achievements, professor ratios, doctoral and master’s degree authorization units, as well as the number of books in the library, all of which can be fabricated. Every teacher must remember this data, and evaluation team members may randomly attend classes, listen, and ask questions, expecting teachers to respond based on the school’s fabricated data. I was very disgusted and ironic about this at the time.”
In Chinese higher education institutions, teachers need to know in advance the figures that the school requires to be disclosed publicly and respond to evaluation personnel according to the uniform approach. Qin Yang stated that academic fraud and fake data in evaluations have been ongoing for many years, and it was only in recent years that the public gradually understood how universities operate internally due to students’ public disclosures.
He said, “The annual student employment rate is falsified, and the university clearly tells each teacher what the rate should be for a given year, and all must fabricate these lies. Academic fraud and achievement fabrication have been going on for years. Higher-ups control university resources, so you must provide favorable and pretty data to apply for resources and policies. This is determined by the CCP system, not that universities enjoy falsifying.”
A retired professor named Pan Jiaming (pseudonym) from a university in Shaanxi, said in an interview, the CCP system only nurtures those who lie, fake, fabricate, and doctor data, not that professors enjoy falsification. He said, “If you don’t falsify, you can’t survive here. Political correctness itself protects your fabrication.”
Pan Jiaming expressed that CCP university assessments do not just examine the school’s actual situations. The ability of a school to obtain research projects and financial support is directly linked to various indicators. To safeguard resources, schools require teachers to jointly maintain a set of numbers, turning assessments into pre-rehearsed data performances.
He said, under this system, presenting attractive data can exchange for resources, but those who expose the falsifiers may lose opportunities for promotion. Teachers who refuse to cooperate with the school’s arrangements may face restrictions in job title promotion, qualification as a graduate supervisor, and research project applications.
Twenty years ago, Pan Jiaming published an article opposing university falsification, which hindered his application for titles and graduate supervisor roles in the following years. Later, he and several students who were already teaching at the university applied for the roles of graduate supervisors together, with the students approved while he was not.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Pan Jiaming said, “After that article was published online, the entire school was alarmed. Since then, my road to apply for professorship, as a graduate supervisor, and for job promotion has essentially been blocked. One year, a colleague insisted on nominating me. Several students of mine also applied, and while the students passed, I did not, all because of that article. My colleague was very angry and went to the principal to argue. The principal clearly stated that it wasn’t because my qualifications were lacking, but rather to prevent me from becoming a graduate supervisor.”
Pan Jiaming lamented, “If you don’t cooperate, you will face restrictions in many aspects, the road to job title promotion will be blocked, and you may never be able to apply for research projects. Once you enter their blacklist, you will stay there indefinitely.”
The CCP has long claimed to promote governance through scientific research, evaluations, and data, but the experiences of geological scholars and university professors indicate that without independent supervision, professional autonomy, and public accountability, data may become a tool for acquiring resources and maintaining political accomplishments. Those who cooperate with falsification can continue to stay in the system, while those who refuse or publicly expose may face dismissal, blocking of job title promotions, and project bans.