China’s academic and dissertation forgery has become a hot topic again recently, with mainland returnee scientist Rao Yi publicly reporting academic forgery by a number of academics, including members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Technology have denied. The official “final word”, but the private sector takes a distrustful attitude towards the official conclusions, the academic community believes that the series of events to overseas scholars to sound the alarm – ride on the “Thousand Talents Program” is difficult to have a good end.
After Rao Yi, president of Capital Medical University, publicly reported to the Academy of Sciences Scientific Ethics Committee a week ago that academician Pei Gang, director of the academy’s ethics committee, had falsified his thesis, the CAS Scientific Ethics Committee announced its official findings on Tuesday (26), saying that no falsification was found after investigation and that no further investigation would be conducted into the report.
And just a week ago, the Ministry of Science and Technology also publicly informed the conclusion of the investigation of five scholars, including Rao Yi himself, who were reported to be involved in academic fraud more than a year ago, saying that all five were “not found to have falsified”.
So, this began in November 2019 after Rao Yi was reported academic misconduct, the Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Pei Gang, Wuhan University School of Medicine Li Hongliang, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Geng Meiyu launched a counter-reporting triggered a major earthquake in the academic world, finally has an official conclusion. Some media people pointed out that the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made almost the same statement, implying that officials from the academic ministry want to draw a conclusion on the matter.
Ms. He, an academic who requested anonymity, told the station that corruption is a serious problem in China’s academic circles. She pointed out that Rao Yi’s challenge to academic corruption has gained public support, even strong support, from the private sector, but Rao Yi’s own embarrassment is that he, as the initiator of China’s Thousand Talents Program, has been denied a visa by the U.S. in recent years because of political considerations in making anti-U.S. statements, and has been marginalized when he has little practical use, such that his situation in China has become embarrassing.
Prof. He: Academic corruption, indeed, is very serious and can be said to be absurd. I’m afraid that everyone in the system has this problem. For example, the top one (Xi Jinping), his doctoral dissertation, his degree is all fake. But Rao Yi, a man who is uncomfortable in China, and is not willing to do so. But he has no other choice, now. If he keeps insisting, I’m afraid he’ll be wearing small shoes, or be sanctioned. Within the system, we are often angry and dare not speak, the circle of friends do not dare to send, the head of the group also dare not send.
On the investigation of Pei Gang’s academic fraud, the CAS Science Ethics Committee emphasized in a statement that, according to the relevant regulations, 12 members (more than two-thirds) of the Academic Ethics Committee met to discuss the incident, and the complainant, Pei Gang himself, who is the director of the sixth CAS Science Ethics Construction Committee, recused himself.
Our reporter interviewed several relevant departments of CAS separately, and those asked were unwilling to respond. The staff of the CAS Scientific Ethics Committee, which issued the investigation report, also refused to answer where Pei Gang is currently going.
Ethics Committee: He will not be here, he is in Shanghai ah. I do not know what you want to do, mainly, ah? We’re not the academic department, so ask the Academy of Sciences through, don’t ask us, okay?
The Science Communication Bureau, which is responsible for speaking to the public, also said it could not answer the question.
Science Communication Bureau: Your question we can not answer that. The work of the academics is mainly in the Bureau of Academic Affairs. I can’t really answer the question you’re asking here.
The press office of the Communication Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that this is already a matter of public opinion, which is beyond the scope of her publicity work.
I don’t know about this, I’m not sure about this. Because he seems to have left the Academy of Sciences now, right? This, he may belong to the kind of public opinion, not our publicity work. I just saw someone sent a WeChat I just know, really can not answer your question.
Our reporter was not able to contact Rao Yi and Pei Gang himself to comment on this. The Ministry of Science and Technology also did not give more clarification on its briefing a week ago.
Two documents from the Shanghai First Intermediate Court in July and November last year also show that Rao Yi has now been sued by Pei Gang and Geng Meiyu for reputation infringement.
Previously, some people in academic circles who have traveled to the United States used Rao Yi and other related cases as examples to remind overseas Chinese scientists who try to make money in China that if they jump on the Chinese system’s boat, it may not end well.
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