‘King of Explosives’ who extended firing range of China’s artillery wins top science award
Wang Zeshan, 82, recognised for his lifetime contribution to the development of propellants and explosives technology
A Chinese scientist dubbed the “King of Explosives” has won the country’s most prestigious research award for his achievements in extending the firing range of Chinese artillery and breakthroughs on gunpowder charges.
Wang Zeshan, 82, was presented with his State Preeminent Science and Technology Award by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a ceremony in Beijing on Monday morning.
The technologies developed by Wang over several decades would give China’s military – the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – a huge advantage in potential conflict areas like the Taiwan Strait or on the Tibetan Plateau, where it has had a long-running border dispute with India, military analysts said.
Song Zhongping, a former instructor with the PLA’s Second Artillery Corps, told the South China Morning Post that one of Wang’s biggest contributions was to establish an efficient artillery operation system.
“Wang is a pioneering explosives scientist who has used his knowledge of munitions, ballistics and propellants to develop world-beating technologies,” said Song, who is now is a military commentator for Hong Kong’s Phoenix Television.