Evaluation system flawed

The Ministry of Science and Technology recently made public the results of the investigation it launched after Tumor Biology, a journal published by Springer Nature, retracted 107 research papers from China in April. Most of the retracted papers were authored by clinical doctors, and the investigation found the peer review process had been compromised.

The announcement reignited concerns over academic credibility in China. Despite being an isolated case, the large number of research papers retracted by the journal seriously compromised the international reputation of China's research circle, the ministry said. The incident underscores the need for China to clean up its academic environment by strengthening its efforts to root out academic misconduct.

However, the academic malpractices of those involved in the scandal should not tar all Chinese researchers with the same brush. The academic cheating in a specific area is not representative of the country's entire research efforts.