China’s top think tank has shut down its public policy research centre amid a new round of ideological reinforcement, with any activities carried out in its name declared “illegal”, with immediate effect.
Part-time researchers affiliated with other departments were returning to their original institutions while the remainder had been dismissed, according to the statement on the CASS website. The centre’s social media accounts and website have also been shut down.
“All activities carried out in the name of the former research centre are illegal and legal responsibility lies with the perpetrators,” said the statement, signed by the Institute of Economics, which is a CASS entity.
The now-defunct centre was once headed by economist Zhu Hengpeng, who was also deputy director of the Institute of Economics. He was last seen in public at the end of April 2024.
Sources familiar with the matter said that Zhu had been investigated and removed from his post in May for criticising China’s economic policies in a group discussion on WeChat.
CASS, once home to many liberal academics who were vocal in their criticism of the authorities, is undergoing a major shift towards greater loyalty to the ruling Communist Party.
