China’s aircraft carrier troubles continue with more researchers charged with corruption
- Latest arrests include senior figures in development of world’s most advanced launch system
A senior researcher handling China’s most sensitive technology – related to development of the country’s first home-grown aircraft carriers – is facing prosecution on corruption-related charges after a four-month investigation.
Jin Tao, 54, the former research head of the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) 712 Institute, was detained in September by the Hubei provincial branch of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Communist Party’s anti-corruption body.
The watchdog said yesterday Jin had “seriously violated party discipline” and “was suspected of a crime of duty causing huge loss to the national interest” and that he “should be dealt with sternly”.
CSIC is currently working on the first Chinese-built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, at its shipyard in the northeastern port city of Dalian, Liaoning province. The vessel’s design is based on the Liaoning, China’s only fully operational aircraft carrier.
The CSIC 712 Research Institute, based in the central China city of Wuhan – Hubei’s capital – is the country’s leading research body for marine electric propulsion and special batteries.