On December 8, 2011, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) selected 54 academicians. Xie Jianping, whose research focuses on adding Chinese herbal medicine to cigarettes to reduce tar content, was on the list.

Xie, 52, is widely known for his research on low-tar cigarettes and serves as the deputy head of a tobacco research institute under China National Tobacco Corp., China's tobacco monopoly and the world's largest cigarette company. Xie's election has ignited great controversy.

Supporters say people shouldn't discriminate against researchers in controversial fields. Xie does not encourage smoking but has done his best to reduce its harm. The tobacco industry is a big one and China cannot eliminate it now.

Opponents decried him as a "tobacco academician" or even "killer academician." They argue that based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), low-tar tobacco advertising is fraudulent and misleads the public, and that it's impossible to reduce the risks of smoking by picking low-tar cigarettes. Xie's successful election was criticized as a shame for science, and his research criticized for helping the tobacco industry make profits.