Chinese Universities Report Loss of 27 Cadres in Less than 4 Months

People wait to see a doctor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China, on Jan. 30, 2023. VCG/VCG via Getty Images

In less than four months this year, at least 27 university cadres in China have died of illness. All were members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Four were under the age of 65, and the youngest was only 54.

Party Heads of 6 Universities

Shi Xiongda, party chief of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), died on April 12 at the age of 61 due to illness.

Mr. Shi held various leadership positions during his career at HIT. He served as party chief of the School of Automotive Engineering, the School of Information Science and Engineering, and finally, the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Wu Jialian, Party chief of Guangdong Vocational College of Literature and Arts, passed away on Feb. 27 in Guangzhou at the age of 58 due to illness.

Ms. Wu was a division head at the Propaganda Department of Guangdong. For many years, she was engaged in publishing, editing, and propaganda in the area of literature and art. As the vocational college’s Party chief, she was in charge of the so-called “maintaining political security and ideological security” and collaborating with the School of Marxism in other universities.

She has been honored with the China News Award, the Sichuan News Award, the Guangdong News Award, and the Advanced Individual in “Fighting SARS” Propaganda Work in Guangdong Province.

Tao Gertu, director and deputy party chief of the School of Journalism and Communication at Inner Mongolia Normal University, died on Feb. 21 at the age of 54.

Mr. Tao, a Mongolian with a Ph.D. in literature, specialized in intercultural communication, international communication, film and television anthropology, and public opinion research. He was the head of a team of experts designated to receive major government support in propaganda, ideology, and culture in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Jin Cheng, 82, former party chief of Nantong Institute of Technology, died on Jan. 27 due to illness.

Lin Guangzhen, 87, former party chief of Jiangsu Normal University, passed away on March 18 after failing to respond to medical treatment.

Wang Shaoyu, 95, former party chief of Sichuan Agricultural University, passed away on March 2 after failing to respond to medical treatment.

Prior to working at the university, he had served as deputy dean of Yingjing County Court, deputy minister of the Publicity Department of Yingjing County, deputy minister of the United Front Work Department of Ya’an County, and Party Chief of Ya’an County.

University Presidents and Vice Presidents

Zhong Binglin, former president of Beijing Normal University and director of the Academic Committee of the China Private Education Association, died of illness on April 7 at the age of 73. Mr. Zhong also served as the director of the Department of Higher Education under the CCP’s Ministry of Education.

Gong Zhenbang, 82, former Vice President of Shanghai University and robotics expert, died on Feb. 20 in Shanghai due to illness.

Mr. Gong served as Vice President of Shanghai University from 1994 to 2002 and has long researched special robotics technology, micro and small robotics, MEMS-based microelectromechanical systems, and precision mechanical transmission technology. He has been awarded a number of scientific and technological prizes at the national, provincial, and ministerial levels.

In addition, Li Nengbin, the former vice president of Ningbo Ocean School, passed away on March 24; Chen Xichou, the former president of Zhengzhou Tourism Vocational College, died of illness on March 17; Qin Sheng, the former first principal of Shangrao Normal College, died of illness on March 10; Xu Rutan, the first principal and party chief of Hubei Yichang Normal College, passed away on March 9; Wang Chimin, the former executive vice president of the Party School of Beijing Medical University, died on March 7; Gong Xiaodao, the former dean of Tianjin Urban Construction College, passed away on Feb. 25; Wang Wensheng, the former vice president of Hefei University of Technology, passed away on Feb. 24; Yin Shuangzeng, the former president of Hainan University, passed away on Jan. 5.

University Cadres

Based on incomplete counts, at least 11 Party and administrative officials from major universities have died of illness since the beginning of this year, including Pei Quan, former deputy administrative chief of Tsinghua University, Liu Li, former deputy party chief of Beijing Medical College’s administrative branch, and 64-year-old Cui Guitian, director of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University, and others.

Chinese authorities have largely abandoned the customary practice of listing the specific cause of death in the official obituary. It is widely believed that this is done to hide the true number of COVID-19 deaths in the country.