ethics

In Analysis: Lawsuit Sparks Debate on China’s Therapy Standards

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

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A high-profile dispute between celebrity psychologist Li Songwei and a former client has led to discussion on the oversight for professional counselors in China.

The Paper

Top Chinese Student’s Animal Cruelty Videos Spark Admissions Debate

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

The student reportedly posted videos online of himself abusing animals, including one where he drowns a cat in a bucket of water. The incident has ignited a nationwide discussion on the role of morals in university admissions.

Ye Zhanhang

Huang Yang

Leading Chinese Philosopher’s Brain Cryopreserved in the US

Unlike most people who opt for cryonics, Chinese enlightenment heavyweight Li Zehou was less interested in resurrection than what study of his brain could mean for science.

He Qitong

Lü  Xiaoxi

China’s Top Science Body to Experts: Don’t Speak Beyond Expertise

In a major overhaul of its code of conduct, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has barred academicians from making comments outside their areas of expertise and misusing their titles for undue benefits.

China Academy of Art Fires Professor Over Plagiarism Allegations

Recent allegations on social media claimed that many of the professor’s works closely resembled those of artists based abroad.

Yang Caini

China’s Pet Industry Is Booming. So Are Its Horrific Breeding Mills.

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

Most Chinese pet owners have no idea where their animals come from. That’s allowing a dark breeding trade to flourish unchecked.

Wang Junlin

Over 2,000 Former Chinese Judges Fail Nationwide Ethics Review

A nationwide review targeted thousands of former judges and prosecutors who left their posts after 2012 to work as lawyers.

Murder Victim’s Family Object to Uninformed Film Adaptation

“The Playground” is based on the 2003 murder — and cover up — of a man whose body was found 16 years later.

Luo Meihan

China’s Top Virologist Zhang Wenhong Cleared of Academic Misconduct

Fudan University investigated the doctoral dissertation of the country’s leading COVID-19 expert after accusations of plagiarism surfaced on social media.

Jiang Yaling

Scientists Create Human-Monkey Hybrids, a Step Closer to Growing Organs

A Chinese-led team managed to grow human cells within monkey embryos for 20 days before terminating the experiment for ethical reasons.

Ye Ruolin

Market Watchdog Warns of Substandard Scarves, Down Jackets

Authorities in eastern China say several big brands including Septwolves and Vero Moda were mislabeled, containing cheaper materials than advertised.

Zhang Chaoyan

China Mulls Lifetime Bans for Sports Dopers

Athletes whose anti-doping suspensions exceed one year could find themselves permanently disqualified from international competition.

New ‘Self-Discipline’ Rules Could Blacklist China’s Celebrities

Expert says an official regulation aimed at holding celebrities to a higher moral standard than laypeople could disproportionately target women.

Du Xinyu

Criminal Probe of Man Who Spread COVID to 82 Sparks Legal Debate

Experts say it will be difficult to prove that the traveling salesman knowingly flouted Tonghua’s disease control measures.

Top Chinese Scientists Cleared of Academic Fraud, Still Punished

A government-backed ethics board found duplicate images and other visual discrepancies in papers by three of the five researchers it investigated, but no evidence of plagiarism.

Yuan Ye

Chinese Government to Randomly Check Student Theses for Plagiarism

New system should also force schools to assess the quality of their instruction, professor says.

Fan Yiying

Chinese Esports Teams Banned Over Dota 2 Match Fixing

The punitive action from developer Valve Corporation came after the teams, Newbee and Avengerls, showed obvious signs of foul play during a head-to-head match.

Kenrick Davis

City Rescinds Fines for Residents Who Bought COVID-Tainted Food

Members of 24 households in the Chinese city of Huanggang had purchased imported frozen pork tenderloin from a batch that tested positive for the coronavirus.

Cai Xuejiao

After 2 Tenants Caught in Sex Work, Water Cut to Whole Building

A local residential committee threatened to cut off the water supply to roughly a dozen households for three months before local authorities intervened.

Bibek Bhandari

After Anhui Girl’s Drowning, Calls for Police to Try Harder

Police in China are required by law to receive emergency response training, though this wasn’t evident as officers stood nearly within arm’s length of the victim before her death.