Tang Jun, the well-known and successful former President of Microsoft China and Shanda Interactive Entertainment, was recently accused by Fang Zhouzi (aka Fang Shimin), a “crusader” against scientific and academic fraud, of falsifying his academic credentials and also patents. Specifically, Fang Zhouzi has provided evidence to show that Tang Jun did not earn a PhD degree from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). When Tang Jun responded by saying that he has never claimed that anywhere, Fang Zhouzi showed excerpts from Tang Jun’s autobiography proving that he has. When Tang Jun showed that he heard his PhD from Pacific Western University, it was discovered that PWU is not an accredited institution and sells fake diplomas. Tang Jun has also threatened to sue Fang Zhouzi for libel.

More information and English translations about this news:

- “‘Fraud cop’ accuses IT big wig, legal action threatened” (Global Voices Online)
- “More CEOs Drawn into Tang Jun’s Fake Academic Credentials Scandal” (Veggie Discourse)
- “Tang Jun PK Fang Zhouzi” (EastSouthWestNorth)
- “Why Diploma Fraud Won’t Be the End of Tang Jun” (Veggie Discourse)
- “Faked credentials, a ghost-written autobiography, and a diploma mill” (Danwei)

What do Chinese netizens think? There are many who are critical but also many who are supportive: