Detention of top Chinese scientist a blow for national security, says lawyer
Former Zhejiang University vice-president Chu Jian was detained three years ago on graft charges but has yet to face trial
The detention of a top Chinese scientist for more than three years without trial is hurting the country’s national security, his lawyer said last week when filing a bail petition with prosecutors in Huzhou, Zhejiang province.
Dr Chu Jian, an industrial automation expert, was vice-president of Zhejiang University before he was held for investigation and later charged with corruption in 2013.
His unreasonably long detention based on unfounded charges has severely affected the pace of numerous research projects
He also founded Supcon, one of the largest automation and information technology suppliers in China. With customers in state-owned industry, government and the military, its smart city network played a key role in setting up security for the G20 summit in Hangzhou next month, according to state media reports.
“Dr Chu is one of the best scientists in the field, winning many top science awards with a significant contribution to China’s national interest,” lawyer Zhou Ze said. “His unreasonably long detention based on unfounded charges has severely affected the pace of numerous research projects critical to China’s national security.”
Chu’s research had significantly reduced and in some cases even eliminated the use of foreign-made components in large industries and the information technology sector, reducing the risk of infiltration and sabotage of China’s backbone infrastructure by foreign individuals or organisations, Zhou said.