The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering announced the results of the biennial selection of academicians from the “Two Academies” of the Chinese Communist Party on November 21. The inclusion of several experts from the Chinese military sector has drawn attention. However, the selection process for CCP academicians has long been criticized for alleged involvement in bribery scandals.
After the announcement on November 21, the Chinese Academy of Sciences elected 73 academicians, while the Chinese Academy of Engineering elected 71 academicians. Following this selection, the total number of academicians in the Chinese Academy of Sciences is 908, with 173 foreign academicians, and the total number in the Chinese Academy of Engineering is 1,002, with 148 foreign academicians.
According to the disclosed list, multiple experts in the Chinese military sector were selected. Such as Wang Jinjun from Beihang University, specializing in “mechanisms and control of complex aerodynamic flows”, He Yuanzhi from the Information Support Force of the CCP researching “satellite communication system science”, Hu Dewen from the National University of Defense Technology researching “brain cognitive pattern recognition”, known as an expert in “mind control”.
Additionally, there are academicians like Fang Qin from the Army Engineering University focusing on “underground structure resistance to impact and explosion”, Lu Junyong from the Naval University of Engineering researching “electromagnetic emission theory and technology”, Ma Cheng from the Naval Research Institute specializing in “ship propulsion theory and design”, Liu Xiaoyong from the 31st Research Institute of the Aerospace Science and Technology Group researching “ramjet engine technology”, and Wang Jue from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology specializing in “aerospace propulsion theory and engineering”, among others.
Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering hold the highest academic title in the field of engineering science and technology established by the CCP, a lifelong honor. Similarly, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences hold the highest academic title in the field of science and technology established by the CCP, also a lifelong honor.
A report from Xinhua News Agency today claims that during the selection process, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering strictly guard against favoritism and nepotism.
However, the selection of CCP academicians has long been criticized for allegedly relying on connections and backdoor dealings. In previous years, controversial incidents such as “liquor academicians”, “golden academicians”, and “tobacco academicians” have surfaced.
Political commentator Heng He, who has worked in domestic laboratories in China, has stated that the selection of CCP academicians is evidently driven by interests. While the CCP’s academicians system emulates Western countries, its nature has undergone significant changes. In China, reaching the level of academician usually leads to both fame and fortune, along with the enhancement of significant political prestige.
In May 2023, Chinese biologist Rao Yi revealed on a public platform that there were issues of money bribery in the selection process of CCP’s “Two Academies” academicians. “Since the beginning of the century, in each round, candidates have directly offered money to academicians with voting rights.”
At the age of 95, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou was announced in late April 2025 as an elected foreign academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. Mainland netizens were surprised and questioned why she was not chosen as an academician in China.
Tu Youyou’s primary scientific contribution is the discovery of artemisinin. In October 2015, Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for “drawing inspiration from classical Chinese medicine literature, pioneering the discovery of artemisinin, and creating a new method for treating malaria”. However, due to lack of a doctoral degree, foreign study background, and the title of academician, Tu Youyou was once referred to by the media as a “triple-negative” scientist.
Dr. Liao Fulong, Director of the Center for Biophysical Pharmacology at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, previously disclosed that Tu Youyou had been nominated multiple times for CCP academicians but was ultimately not selected. Her nominations for academicians at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences were also unsuccessful.
When the selection process for CCP’s “Two Academies” academicians started on January 1, 2017, The Paper News reported that researchers from Tu Youyou’s team stated that Tu Youyou herself had no intention of running for selection.