China's scholarly publishing landscape has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, evolving from a system largely reliant on international outlets to one that prioritizes and strengthens domestic journals and platforms. This shift reflects broader national strategies aimed at enhancing scientific self-reliance while maintaining global competitiveness. Universities across the country, from Tsinghua University to the Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes, are central to this development, as researchers increasingly navigate policies that reward publication in homegrown titles.
Government backing has been instrumental. The China Association for Science and Technology launched the Excellence Action Plan for Science, Technology, and Medicine journals, with its second phase running from 2024 to 2028. This initiative allocates 1.2 billion RMB to support journal development, including the creation of 120 new high-starting-point journals, many in English and scheduled to begin publishing in 2026. Such investments treat scholarly publishing as strategic infrastructure essential for directing research priorities and validating findings within the national ecosystem.
Historically, China's academic journals numbered around 50 in the early years of the People's Republic. By the 1960s, the count reached approximately 465, covering most disciplines. Expansion accelerated in the 21st century, reaching over 5,200 STM journals by the end of 2023, with thousands more in the humanities and social sciences. Platforms like China National Knowledge Infrastructure have digitized and centralized access, making domestic content more discoverable than ever before.
The scale of output underscores the momentum. Chinese authors now contribute roughly 23 percent of global research articles, surpassing the United States. In 2023 alone, researchers published over 728,000 SCI-indexed papers, yet only a small fraction appeared in Chinese SCI journals. This disparity has prompted deliberate efforts to redirect high-quality work inward.
Policy reforms have accelerated the pivot. New evaluation frameworks de-emphasize raw impact factors in favor of criteria that value contributions to domestic disciplinary development and the proportion of high-quality papers by Chinese authors. The 2025 journal classification lists expanded coverage of China-hosted titles, upgrading many in tier rankings. Researchers are encouraged to place at least one-third of their representative papers in leading domestic journals, reducing dependence on foreign platforms.
Funding bodies have followed suit. The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced it would cease using central allocations to pay article processing charges for dozens of expensive international open-access journals starting in 2026. This move channels resources toward actual research while bolstering home institutions.
Open access models in China often differ from Western gold OA. Many domestic journals operate with modest or no author fees, immediate free reader access, and sometimes small payments to authors. This embedded system, supported by scholarly societies and universities, aligns with national goals of broad dissemination without the high costs associated with some international publishers. The Dongbi Index, launched in 2026, now ranks over 12,700 journals using citation quality and network analysis rather than volume alone, providing a domestic alternative to global metrics.
Universities play a pivotal role. Faculty at institutions like Peking University and Fudan University face revised promotion criteria that reward publications in recognized national titles. Training programs for editors and peer reviewers have expanded to elevate standards across the board.
Challenges persist alongside growth. Concerns over research integrity, including paper mills and retractions, have prompted nationwide audits and crackdowns by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Supreme People's Court. Policies now emphasize responsible conduct, with guidelines addressing artificial intelligence use in manuscript preparation. Reforms also target the “only papers” evaluation culture, promoting diverse outputs such as data sets and patents.
International implications are significant. As Chinese journals improve peer review and editorial infrastructure, they attract submissions from abroad while competing for citations. English-language titles funded under the Excellence Action Plan aim to draw global authorship, potentially reshaping submission patterns in fields like engineering, medicine, and environmental science.
Stakeholder perspectives vary. Senior researchers often balance international prestige with national priorities, while early-career academics benefit from clearer pathways in domestic outlets. University administrators appreciate reduced APC expenditures, and policymakers view the system as a foundation for technological self-reliance by 2030.
Case studies illustrate the trajectory. Tsinghua University Press journals have gained recognition in global rankings, while initiatives at the Chinese Academy of Sciences focus on high-impact domestic titles. Collaborative efforts between universities and platforms like Wanfang Data enhance discoverability.
Photo by Philip Stieber on Unsplash
Looking ahead, the system is poised for further integration with emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence tools for screening manuscripts and managing peer review are being piloted, alongside expanded digital infrastructure. By the end of the decade, analysts anticipate Chinese publishers holding a larger share of influence in key disciplines, supported by sustained investment and policy alignment.
For academics and administrators, these developments signal opportunities to engage with a maturing ecosystem that values both quality and national relevance. Institutions are adapting hiring and evaluation practices accordingly, fostering a more balanced approach to scholarly communication.
