The controversy surrounding young Chinese writer Jiang Fangzhou's alleged thesis fraud has taken a new turn. On the evening of the 13th, Renmin University of China released a statement announcing that, after investigation, it has determined Jiang Fangzhou committed academic misconduct and has decided to revoke her master's degree.
Jiang Fangzhou subsequently stated on her Weibo account that she accepts the university's decision.
Jiang Fangzhou was previously known as a "child prodigy". In early July, Tsinghua University Professor Xiao Ying published a detailed chart on Weibo accusing Jiang Fangzhou's master's thesis at Renmin University of China of serious fabrication, plagiarism, and falsification. At the time, Jiang Fangzhou responded that Xiao's accusation amounted to "malicious slander," and claimed many of the allegations were seriously untrue.
Previously, Renmin University had released a statement concluding that Jiang Fangzhou had a "serious lack of awareness" regarding the importance of thesis citations but that no academic misconduct as defined by relevant regulations had been found in her thesis.
However, on the evening of the 13th, the situation changed. Renmin University released another "situation bulletin," announcing the revocation of Jiang Fangzhou's degree.
The statement explained that, based on new leads recently circulating online regarding possible academic misconduct in the thesis of 2019 School of Liberal Arts graduate Jiang Moumou, the university took the matter very seriously, immediately forming an investigation team composed of several experts from within and outside the university. The team conducted in-depth checks via source comparison, regulated inquiries, and heard the statements of the parties involved.
Jiang Fangzhou, now 37, began writing at age 7, published a book at 9, rose to fame at 12, was admitted to Tsinghua University at 19 with special dispensation, and became deputy chief editor of the Chinese media outlet New Weekly at 23.
In addition to the thesis issue, last June China Newsweek reported that blogger "Lyric Forest" found phrases in Jiang Fangzhou's works that were identical to those of writers such as Camus, Yan Lianke, and Nabokov, as well as some of their interviews.