Peking University Publishes 13 Consecutive Obituaries, Most Members of CCP

A man jogs in front of the Wanliu campus of Peking University in Beijing on May 16, 2022. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

In the first three months of 2024, at least eight professors and five officials at Peking University (PKU) died from illnesses. Most of them are members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

There has been a steady spike in deaths at PKU and other CCP-funded colleges and universities since the onset of COVID-19. According to incomplete statistics, in 2022, PKU lost at least 101 teachers and professors. Last year saw the deaths of 72 professors,  among which at least 44, or 61.1 percent, were party members.

PKU was the base for the spread of Marxism in China. Six of its 13 founders, including the first CCP leader Mao Zedong, had studied or worked there. In July 1921, when the party’s first congress convened in Shanghai, nearly half of the party members were associated with PKU.

Director of Overseas Confucius Institute

Li Shengjun, a CCP member and a professor of the Arabic Department at the School of Foreign Languages of PKU, died on March 22 at 74.

Mr. Li was the director of the Confucius Institute at Cairo University from October 2009 to October 2012. He was responsible for compiling the “Chinese-Arabic Interpretation Tutorial” and the “Simplified Chinese Tutorial” of the Confucius Institute at the university.

The Confucius Institute, which the CCP established overseas to promote its ideology worldwide, has sparked concerns over communist infiltration and led to boycotts in many countries.

Mr. Li served as the secretary of the party branch of the Arabic Teaching and Research Department of the School of Foreign Languages of PKU, deputy director of the Arabic Teaching and Research Department, deputy director of the Institute of Arab-Islamic Culture, first secretary of the CCP Embassy in the Syrian Arab Republic, and a translator in the expert group of the Ministry of Commerce of the Yemeni Arab Republic.

Seven Other Professors

Li Liang, brain specialist and professor of the School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences at PKU, died on March 28, at the age of 62, after failing to respond to medical treatment, according to state media.

Mr. Li was a crucial scientist of the Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, who led the state-funded “985” Physiology and Psychology Department at PKU. He served as deputy director of the Academic Committee of the Center for Hearing and Speech Research, a member of the Academic Committee of the State Key Laboratory of Visual and Auditory Information Processing, a member of the Professional Committee of Physiological Psychology of the Chinese Psychological Society, and a visiting professor of the Key Laboratory of Mental Health at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 2001, Mr. Li established PKU’s first non-medical animal laboratory, creating a model of cross-referencing between animal and human research subjects.

Yang Xin, a CCP member, professor of Philosophy, and former head of the Department of Aesthetics at PKU, died on March 7 of illness. He was a renowned philosopher, aesthetician, and calligrapher. He received a special allowance from the State Council and was the vice-chairman of the Aesthetics Section of the Beijing Philosophical Society.

Zhang Dexiu, a CCP member and a professor at the School of Economics of PKU, died on Feb. 21 in Beijing.

Visitors take an oath in front of a communist flag (not seen) at the entrance of Peking University's Red Building, where a new exhibition has been set up as part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, on June 30, 2021. Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images

Sun Yushi, a CCP member, professor of the Department of Chinese at PKU, and a literary historian, died on Jan. 13 of illness. Mr. Sun was mainly engaged in the history of modern Chinese literature. He was the head of the Department of Chinese, a member of the Steering Committee on the Teaching of Chinese Language and Literature of the State Education Commission, and the deputy head of the Chinese Language and Literature Section of the Steering Committee on Teaching in Higher Education Schools.

Tian Gengshan, a CCP member and an expert in infectious diseases, and a professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the First Hospital of PKU, died on Jan. 10 from illness.

Mr. Tian was the deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s Special Committee on Viral Hepatitis and has been granted a special allowance by the State Council since 1992.

Sun Guoying, associate professor of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics at PKU, died on Jan. 4 in the United States after failing to recover from his illness.

Du Guoguang, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at PKU, died on March 7 in Chicago, USA.

Senior Officials

Zhang Jianzao, a CCP member and former director of the Administrative Office of the Law School of PKU, died on March 9 of illness. For the 70th anniversary of the CCP’s founding, the Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission awarded him the Medal of Honor.

Wang Chimin, a CCP member and former executive vice president of the Party School of Beijing Medical University, died on March 7 from illness. He was the deputy secretary of the General Branch of the Medical Education Team of Beijing Medical College, deputy director of the Party Committee Office, and executive vice president of the Party School.

Hao Yongcheng, a CCP member and former director of the Office of Radio Electronics Department of PKU, died on Feb. 18 due to illness. He had participated in the Civil War and the Korean War and had worked in the Party Committee and Personnel Office.

Liu Li, a CCP member and former deputy secretary of the General Party Branch of the Beijing Medical College, died on Feb. 16 due to illness. He served as an administrator of the Security Department of Peking Medical College, a secretary of the General Affairs Department, a deputy director of the Secrecy Office, and a deputy secretary of the General Party Branch of the Peking Medical College.

Huang Wenyi, a member of the CCP, former deputy dean of the university director’s Office, and a researcher of PKU, died on Feb. 4 of illness. He was awarded “Advanced Party Historian” by the Party History Collection Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee.