Three leading scientists have dropped a bombshell by publishing an article criticising the Ministry of Science and Technology. They say it has become a major obstacle to the development of science and technology on the mainland.
The article, which was published in a Chinese supplement to the international Nature magazine, attacked the ministry for mixing politics with science. It has attracted widespread attention among intellectuals on the mainland.
In the article, the three - Zou Chenglu , of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Rao Yi , of Northwest University, and Lu Bai , of the US National Institute of Science - described the ministry as a relic from the planned- economy era.
'So long as the ministry is in charge of the distribution of huge amounts of money for China's scientific research, the situation of some mediocre people leading our frontline researchers will continue,' the scientists wrote.
They said it was a big mistake to leave the power of funding in the hands of bureaucrats and politicians who made decisions that were based more on political and other non-professional considerations.
Moreover, they said many mid- and low-level bureaucrats held too much power and were able to dictate whether or not their favoured scientists were chosen for government funding.