In recent news from Epoch Times on July 24, 2026, a series of high-profile figures from Central South University have fallen from grace since October 2025. Zhang Yaoxue, the former president of Central South University, and Guo Xueyi, the former vice president, along with Zhang Zhuohua, the former vice president of Central South University and former president of South China University, have all been implicated. These three individuals had a long history of working together. South China University and Central South University share a historical connection and are closely associated with the Chinese Communist military-industrial complex.
On July 23, 2026, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party announced that Guo Xueyi, former member of the party committee and vice president of Central South University, has been expelled from the party and dismissed from public office, pending judicial proceedings.
The report stated that Guo Xueyi violated regulations by accepting gifts, banquets, giving gifts and money to others to obtain academic awards and titles, seeking benefits for himself and others in promotions, engaging in business ventures, showing greed, abusing power for personal gain, engaging in corrupt practices with private business owners, using his position for personal gain in business operations and project collaborations, and illegally accepting large sums of money. Guo Xueyi is accused of serious violations of duty and allegedly involved in bribery, both as a giver and receiver, and embezzlement.
According to public records, Guo Xueyi was born in October 1966 in Changsha, Hunan. He holds a Ph.D. in engineering, is a professor, and a doctoral supervisor. He previously served as an associate professor at the School of Metallurgical Science and Engineering at Central South Industrial University, a professor and deputy director at the Institute of Heavy Metal Metallurgy at Central South University.
In December 2005, Guo Xueyi moved into administrative positions, and subsequently held various roles such as the deputy director and director of the Graduate School Office at Central South University and the director of the Personnel Department. In July 2016, he was appointed as a member of the party committee and vice president of Central South University. Guo Xueyi’s downfall occurred during his tenure when he was removed from his position on December 27, 2025.
Prior to Guo Xueyi’s fall from grace, his former superior, Zhang Yaoxue, the former president of Central South University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was implicated on October 17, 2025.
Zhang Yaoxue, born in January 1956 in Li County, Hunan, served as the president of Central South University from October 2011 to May 2017. During his tenure, Guo Xueyi held positions such as director of the Graduate School Office, director of the Personnel Department, and later as the vice president of Central South University, making him a senior managerial cadre at the university.
On May 21, 2026, Zhang Yaoxue was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and dismissed from public office. On May 25, 2026, the website of the Chinese Academy of Engineering announced the revocation of his academician title as of May 21, 2026.
The report mentioned that Zhang Yaoxue sought benefits for others and accepted money in the selection and appointment of cadres, awarding of academic titles, and honorary recognition, thereby contributing to the proliferation of irregular practices and corruption within the academic sector. He also unlawfully received gifts, money, and substantial sums of money, using his public power for private gain, accepting bribes, and engaging in serious violations of duty, allegedly involving bribery crimes.
Three weeks prior, on July 3, 2023, Zhang Zhuohua, the vice chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was reported to have fallen from grace.
Public records show that Zhang Zhuohua, born in September 1963 in Changsha, Hunan, and a member of the Agricultural and Workers Party, held various positions such as professor at the National Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics at Hunan Medical University, assistant to the president, director of the National Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics at Central South University, vice president of Central South University, president of South China University, director of the Precision Molecular Medicine Research Institute at Central South University, and member of the Provincial Committee of the Agricultural and Workers Party and the Central Committee of the Agricultural and Workers Party. In January 2018, Zhang Zhuohua was appointed as the vice chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a position he held until his recent investigation.
From December 2010 to May 2016, Zhang Zhuohua served as the vice president of Central South University, followed by the director of the Precision Molecular Medicine Research Institute at Central South University until January 2018. During his time at Central South University, he worked closely with Zhang Yaoxue for four and a half years and collaborated with Guo Xueyi.
Zhang Yaoxue is an expert in the field of computer science and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Guo Xueyi, an expert in metallurgical engineering, was selected as a candidate for academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2025. Zhang Zhuohua, an expert in genetic medicine, was previously recommended for evaluation as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and was selected as a candidate in 2023.
Central South University was formed in April 2000 through the merger of Hunan Medical University (formerly Hunan Medical College), Changsha Railway College, and Central South Industrial University (formerly Central South Mining and Metallurgical College). Located in Changsha, Hunan Province, it is a key national university directly administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Public information indicates that Central South University is known for its expertise in mining and metallurgy and has a close relationship with the Chinese Communist national defense and military-industrial complex. The National Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy at Central South University has provided a wide range of specialized powder metallurgical materials for projects such as China’s first atomic bomb and manned spacecraft.
In January 2008, a decision was made by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the State Defense Science and Technology Committee, and the Hunan Provincial Government to support Central South University in establishing key construction projects such as the “School of Aeronautics and Astronautics” and the “National Defense Science and Technology Research Institute.”
On April 13, 2022, the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Central South University was upgraded to the Aerospace Technology Research Institute of Central South University, focusing on research areas such as intelligent design of aerospace vehicles, aerospace intelligent navigation and control, multifunctional integrated intelligent structures, and advanced aerospace power systems.
From May 2016 to December 2025, Zhang Zhuohua served as the president of South China University for nine and a half years.
South China University, located in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, is a comprehensive university jointly established by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the State Administration of National Defense Science, Technology and Industry, the National Health Commission, China National Nuclear Corporation, and the Hunan Provincial Government. It was formed through the merger of the Central South Institute of Engineering, formerly under the Ministry of Nuclear Industry, and the Hengyang Medical College, formerly under the Hunan Provincial Government, in March 2000. The Central South Institute of Engineering, formerly known as the Hengyang Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, was founded based on the mining and metallurgical engineering department of the Central South Mining and Metallurgical College in 1959. Both the Hengyang Medical College and the Xiangya Medical College of Central South University have common roots tracing back to the early days of Hunan Medical College.
In October 2002, the Sixth Research Institute of Nuclear Industry was integrated into South China University, and the 415 Hospital of Nuclear Industry was transformed into a directly affiliated hospital of South China University.
South China University has a deep historical connection with the Chinese Communist nuclear and defense industry system; its predecessor, the Hengyang Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Engineering, was the earliest school dedicated to training uranium mining and metallurgy talents, known as the first institute of uranium mining and metallurgy. The core components of South China University including the Central South Institute of Engineering and the Sixth Research Institute of Nuclear Industry have long been directly affiliated with the Ministry of Nuclear Industry of the Chinese Communist Party (later the China National Nuclear Corporation and China Nuclear Industry Group).
South China University established a School of Nuclear Science and Technology in 2000. The university currently has four key national defense and specialty disciplines: nuclear engineering and technology, nuclear safety and emergency technology, nuclear fuel cycle, and biotechnology of uranium mining metallurgy.
South China University also serves as a selection and training base for reserve naval officers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy. It was officially authorized in July 2004, becoming the first university in Hunan Province to train military personnel and reserve officers for the navy.
In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party’s purge has extended to the military-industrial complex. According to official reports and media compilations, at least 12 central state-owned enterprises in the military industry such as China National Nuclear Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, China Aviation Industry Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, China Ordnance Industry Group, and China Electronics Technology Group have seen senior officials undergo investigations, removal from their positions, or prolonged absence from public view in recent years. Since 2024, at least 10 academicians with military-industrial backgrounds from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering have been expelled.