China Cracks Down on High-Priced Western Science Journals Fees

China Cracks Down on High-Priced Western Science Journals Fees

China’s top research body has implemented new guidelines to restrict the use of government funds for publishing in some expensive Western science journals. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has prohibited central government funds from being used to cover article processing charges for high-fee journals like Cell Reports, Nature Communications, and Science Advances.

The policy aims to optimize academic publishing management, control expenditure, and enhance research fund efficiency. Article processing charges are fees publishers charge authors to make their papers freely available online. This move reflects China's strategic shift in managing costs while maintaining international scientific standards.