Three Top Defense Scientists Removed From China’s Elite Engineering Academy
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File photos from left to right: Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin.
Three prominent defense scientists and former executives at China’s top state-owned military conglomerates have been quietly removed from the official roster of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
A recent update to the academy’s website showed that the names and biographies of Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin were deleted from its full list of academicians. All three men have extensive career backgrounds in the country’s defense industry.
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- Three defense scientists—Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin—were removed from the Chinese Academy of Engineering’s official roster.
- All held high-ranking roles in China’s military conglomerates and served as vice presidents of the academy.
- Similar removals occurred previously with Liu Cangli and Cao Jianguo, also prominent in China’s defense industry and academy system.
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Who’s Who
- China Electronics Technology Group Corp.
- Wu Manqing, a cyber and information technology expert, served as general manager of the China Electronics Technology Group Corp. from 2018. He joined the conglomerate in 2012 and was elected as an academician in 2009. He also served as vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering before stepping down in June 2025.
- China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.
- Wei Yiyin served as the deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. He is an expert in missile guidance and control, having worked on cruise missile systems. He held this position before stepping down in June 2023.
- Aero Engine Corp. of China
- Cao Jianguo, former chairman of the Aero Engine Corp. of China, was elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2019. His profile has since been removed from the academy's list. He previously served as general manager and chairman of the aerospace conglomerate.
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What Happened When
- 2007：
- Zhao Xiangeng became president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics.
- 2009：
- Wu Manqing was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2011：
- Zhao Xiangeng was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2012：
- Wu Manqing joined the China Electronics Technology Group.
- 2014：
- Wei Yiyin became deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.
- 2015：
- Liu Cangli succeeded Zhao as president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics.
- 2016：
- Zhao Xiangeng transferred to the Chinese Academy of Engineering as vice president.
- October 2016：
- Zhao Xiangeng was elevated to full member of the Communist Party Central Committee during a plenum.
- 2018：
- Wu Manqing became general manager of the China Electronics Technology Group Corp.
- 2018：
- Zhao Xiangeng stepped down as vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2019：
- Wei Yiyin was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2019：
- Cao Jianguo was elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2021：
- Liu Cangli was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- 2022：
- Wu Manqing became vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- June 2023：
- Wei Yiyin stepped down as deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.
- 2024：
- Liu Cangli's tenure as president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics ended.
- June 2025：
- Wu Manqing stepped down as vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- 2026：
- Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin’s names and biographies were deleted from the full list of academicians on the Chinese Academy of Engineering website.
- 2026：
- Cao Jianguo’s profile was scrubbed from the engineering academy’s list.
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