China: CAE Won''t Admit New Tobacco Researchers, But One Will Stay in Place

Source from:  Global Times (cn)  02/05/2013

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced on Friday that it will no longer admit tobacco researchers and will not expel the one they admitted in late 2011 although they are investigating his election.

Xu Rigan, CAE's vice president said that scientists working in the field of tobacco research will not be nominated or recommended for future selection to the academy, according to Xinhua.

The announcement came just over a year after Xie Jianping, 54-year-old deputy director of Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Center, was elected to the CAE for his studies on low-tar cigarettes, which he claimed are less harmful.

Xie's election aroused public criticism of the academy for honoring the work of someone with close ties to the tobacco industry.

Xu said that Xie's membership will not be revoked, adding that the CAE has set up an investigation into how Xie was elected.

Xu noted that the CAE has strict nomination and selection procedures and Xie's title remains valid.

Xie won election to the academy's environment and light textile industry division in late 2011.

In May 2012, some 100 CAE academicians submitted a petition urging the CAE to revoke Xie's membership. Enditem