Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0 Zha, Draft 13-Feb-90 page 5 reportedly said, his children, his secretary, and many old friends had gone to see psi trials (upon the invitation of psi researchers) and almost all of the attendees were easily deceived and made to believe in the reality of psi. Thus, he had better not personally try to observe such trials or he too might be deceived "by the techniques of stage magic." Yu’s arguments were extremely weak. Checking through Yu’s papers, the senior author has found that Yu’s opposition was based upon the following two arguments: 1. The claimed parapsychological phenomena are contrary to Marxism, Leninism, dialectical materialism, and currently known scientific laws and therefore cannot be true. 2. There have been many cases of psi trials, both in China and in other countries, which were found to be fraudulent. Considering the improbability of the phenomena, common sense tells us that all such claims must be hoaxes. It is obvious that these two arguments are logically and methodologically incorrect. The exist- ence of a phenomenon is not precluded by any theory, and a part of available evidence does not necessarily represent the whole. Indeed, these two arguments were so fragile that, after June, 1982, when publication of Yu’s multi-part paper was halted by the Party’s decision (which will be discussed in detail below), the NJ editors managed to obtain the unpublished portions and published them in full in their own informal EFHB Bulletin. . The scientists and leaders supporting Yu were even more eager than he to halt the study of psi. The Academia Sinica held a meeting in Beijing on February 24, 1982, which was attended by 4,000 scholars, to attack the psi studies and to call for "fair but strictly controlled" trials in which both sides would participate. The results of these trials would lead to a final judgment and thus close the issue. The meeting was given extensive coverage by both the Xinghua News Agency and the People’s Daily newspaper, the two most important government-authorized media. Their news dispatches expressed strong disapproval of the psi researchers. The person leading the other side of the debate was the above-mentioned scientist Dr. Qian Xuesen, the "father of Chinese rocketry". He studied at MIT in the 1930's and completed his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was sub- sequently appointed Goddard Professor of Jet Propulsion. At one time he was director of the rocket section of the U.S. National Defense Scientific Advisory Board. Although the Americans granted Dr. Qian’s request to return to China in 1955, in exchange for 11 American Pilots from the Korean War, it was later rumored that the U.S. government regretted the decision, for they believed that without Qian, China would not have been able to join the nuclear and space clubs so soon. Dr. Qian first showed his support of qigong research publicly in June, 1980, when he visited NJ. Ina private conversation with the Journal's editor Dr. Qian is reported to have said: No one has ever undertaken to discover the ultimate capabilities of the human body. Henceforth, we should use science and technology to study human potential. Thus, we should study Chinese traditional medical theories, qigong, exceptional functions of the human body, and so on. In the end, all this will result in developing the exceptional functions you bave been studying. There is much opposition to the integration of Western and Chinese medicine, including gigong and EFHB. It is permissable to use different approaches in research. Many natural phenomena are still not explained by science, and this is the way it has been throughout the history of science. We need a leader who is strong enough to face critics, and that is why I have come to visit and to show my respect for your joumal (Nature Journal, editorial report, 1980). Dr. Qian answered Mr. Yu’s challenge by emphasizing that it is important to perform experi- ments rather than merely to stick with existing theories. Dr. Qian believed that anthropic science ®The term “anthropic" was officially used in English translations in the early phases but was later replaced by “somatic”, although the Chinese term remained the same. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0 Zha, Draft 13-Feb-90 page 6 would become a major branch of modern science and technology and attain the same standing that the natural sciences, the social sciences, the behavioral sciences, mathematics, systems theory, military theory, and the fine arts have today (Yi, 1988). He also predicted that a breakthrough in anthropic science would necessarily cause a new revolution in science and tech- nology, thereby changing the future of mankind completely. He believed that such a change would be far more profound than the scientific revolution of the early Twentieth Century which was brought about by the development of relativity and quantum theory (Qian, 1983). These arguments were politically effective, in part because of Dr. Qian’s important position and his influence upon Chinese policy makers, especially the military leaders. Another high ranking political and military leader, Mr. Zhang Zhenhuan, who was at that time Chairman of the Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense, endorsed open discus- sion of EFHB in response to Dr. Qian’s call for support of the field. Mr. Zhang later became the president of the China Society of Somatic Science (CSSS). Although he rarely performed a formal experiment himself, Dr. Qian did observe many trials by qigong masters and, on one occasion, experienced in person the power of their "qigong exter- nal emission" (“qigong waiqi” or “exterior energy"). Also convinced by what they had seen were many highly respected senior natural scientists, who expressed their support for the proponents of EFHB. These scientists included Wong Gangchang, Zhao Zhongrao, Bei Shizhang, Mao Yi- sheng, Qian Weichang, Tan Jiazheng, Yang Longsheng, Wang Dezhao, Zhu Guangya and Tang Aogqing, a chemist who was later elected president of the Academia Sinica. In an attempt to settle the issue fairly, a joint trial was arranged by the Party’s National Com- mittee of Science in April, 1982. A disagreement concerning the design of the experiments arose between the opposing factions before the trial was formally begun, and as a result, some members of the anti-psi faction withdrew, saying that they would not acknowledge the validity of the outcome of the trial. Nevertheless, the trial did proceed at Beijing Teacher’s College with mem- bers of both factions in attendance. The results, by and large, were negative, with the exception of those produced by "Z" (see later). However, since "Z" did provide strong positive results and no evidence of cheating was discovered in any of the tests, the pro-psi members of the joint committee took the offensive and circulated reports of the trial in the first issue of an “internally circulating" magazine, EFHB Research (see later), although the reported results were chosen to exclude the negative responses (Combined Committee for EHFB Tests, 1983). Meanwhile, the anti-psi faction chose not to make any report of the results. As usually happens in a centrally-controlled country, when no one wants to be on the losing side of an issue, both sides turned to the Party for a resolution. Dr. Qian Xuesen wrote a letter to the Party’s Central’ Propaganda Department asking the Department to protect the freedom of science, while Yu Guangyuan continued to push for a ban on psi as an approved research topic. Dr. Qian’s letter was forwarded to the Central Committee and finally the leaders made a judg- ment. The ruling came down on the side of Yu, but permission was granted for psi researchers to continue on a restricted scale. The decision was announced on May 13, 1982, by Hu Yaobang, who was then the Party’s General Secretary. The Party’s Propaganda Department also issued two announcements in April and June giving basically the same instructions: The EFHB is not [an officially accepted] subject for our scientific research. Before proof of the phenomena is finnly established, our media should not propagandize or make any comment about any test or experiment. These rules are believed to be appropriate and justified, so they must be observed. However, we may allow a minority group of scholars to continue their study [of] the topic and let them publish an internally circulated publication for the consideration of concerned scientists, and permit those who are interested to read it and to continue their research efforts (Hu, 1982). The Party’s ruling was obeyed. NJ stopped carrying papers on psi research; while Knowledge _ Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0 Zha, Draft 13-Feb-90 page 7 is Power ceased publication of Yu’s serialized paper as of June, 1982. Psi enthusiasts in univer- sities and institutes were not permitted to include their psi studies as part of their formal work load or to freely distribute results of their psi research to the general public. Thus, the first phase of modern Chinese parapsychological research, which had been characterized by its large-scale effort, ended. Phase II (1983-1986): Quiet Research Continues In contrast to the earlier years, the scale of research in the second phase was much smaller and quieter. Following the disappearance of the coverage of psi by the news media, most ordinary people soon forgot about the subject and the rest incorrectly assumed that the psi reports were fraudulent and had been banned by the Party. A majority of the former investigators also gradually drifted away from the subject, not be- cause they doubted the genuineness of the observed results or because they had lost interest, but for more pragmatic reasons: The economic reform had started and, in accordance with the newly adopted policies, promotions were no longer based on the number of years a scholar had worked in his unit, but more and more upon his achievements. Since EFHB study was “not a recognized research topic,” and could not be counted as formal work, it was not considered in making promotion decisions. Also, the new open-market policy created many opportunities for intellec- tuals to make money by employing their knowledge in support of the country’s modernization, These opportunities were highly attractive to the nation’s professional thinkers, who had been in an inferior economic position for so long. In addition, keen competition to be admitted to the better universities and even to the better high schools was forcing psychic children and their worried parents to decline further invitations to participate in psi testing. Such activities seemed irrelevant to the future careers of the children. Nevertheless, as allowed by the Party, psi groups survived and continued their former en- deavors; while the field moved in new directions through the efforts of Dr. Qian Xuesen and his fellow military officers, including Mr. Zhang Zhenhuan. It was no secret that in late 1981, Qian and Zhang had successfully set up a psi study site known as the 507 Institute, or Space Medico- Engineering Institute (SMEI). This Institute, located in suburban Beijing, is under the defense- related Spaceflight Department. It had been established earlier in the 1960's to provide medical support for the astronauts of the proposed Chinese space effort, but in the early 1970’s the idea of manned space flight was postponed due to more urgent considerations relating to the nation’s reconstruction. ‘Thug, a team with considerable relevant experience was already in place. In- cluded were two researchers strongly interested in EFHB, Prof. Chen Hsin, Dean of the Institute, and Prof. Mei Lei, both of whom attended the 1982 joint convention in England of the Para- psychological Association and the Society for Psychical Research. Research proceeded smoothly, in part because those who opposed psi research had almost no power within the military system, and also because open attack on psi research was no longer permitted due to the Party’s previous ruling. At the beginning, teams in the SMEI carefully reviewed reports from both inside and outside the nation. In Professors Chen and Mei’s 1982 address at Cambridge University, England, they reported only the results previously obtained by Chinese researchers outside the SMEI, in ad- dition to the ideas offered by Dr. Qian. As time progressed, the SMEI became more independent and isolated from the civilian research community. The senior author heard complaints from university professors that they no longer had access to the psychic subjects with whom they had previously worked and, furthermore, that they were not very well informed as to what was occur- ring within the SMEI. Of course, the civilian researchers were pleased to see that there was a Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0 Zha, Draft 13-Feb-90 page 8 formally endorsed, well-supported team to continue research in the subject, but they increasingly found that they had become outsiders with almost nothing to do. They also realized that, in the defense-related unit, practical applications of psi might have a higher priority than basic scientific inquiries. Indeed, the SMEI team had many advantages. Psi study was their official task, and as in other top defense-related institutes, they were well equipped and well funded. They had the money to attract and support the country’s top psychics and they actually did so. Several famous subjects had been moved in as full-time co-operators, including Zhang Baosheng, who had been formerly reported in many papers as "Z", Born in 1955 in Bengxi city, Liaoning Province, Zhang Baosheng showed his ESP abilities as early as 1976 in the countryside. He was tested by a group of local psi researchers and came to Beijing in early 1982, at a time when the skeptical pressure against the EFHB teams was at its peak. Ina certain sense, it was Zhang who saved the study of psi since he was about the only one able to show distinctly positive results in the hostile atmosphere and under the rigorous scrutiny applied by the skeptics in the “joint trial" early that summer. Many believe it was Zhang’s success that positively affected the Party leaders and led to their mild and impartial directive. In his earlier personal experience with Zhang Baosheng, gained over months of close obser- on vation, the senior author found that, as with many other major psychics under loose control, S Zhang was able to perform numerous incredible miracles. Most of these involved apparent PK, and many were done in the way the senior author or others requested, with the targets seemingly chosen at random. For example, Zhang caused objects, such as someone’s photo identification card or personal name stamp to move to another room which had not been entered, or caused a torn personal letter to be restored to a single piece. Of course Zhang Baosheng did many experiments under presumably tightly controlled con- ditions, and one of the reports of his PK experiments (Lin, et al., 1983), which was performed by a group of 19 researchers headed by Prof. Lin Shuhuang of the Physics Department of Beijing Teacher’s College, was published in EFHB Research.” This experimental report clearly il- lustrates the typical target-selection and sealing techniques used in China, and, thus, is a good example of how such experiments were conducted. The paper reported some favorite skills of the psychic, such as extracting medical pills, small papers having unique signs, or even marked live insects from carefully sealed containers. The best tamper-proof seals included chemical tracer papers which could not touch the target without leaving visible signs or other means of detection. By the year 1984, Zhang Baosheng was under the complete control of the SMEI team. They provided him with everything he wanted: an assigned car, special meal plan, color TV, VCR, camera, etc. Many times he was called upon to demonstrate his PK in front of highly placed Party or military leaders. (Those demonstrations were of course not under tight control.) Rarely did the civilian researchers who had worked with him get the chance to reach him again. However, the SMEI team did report some highly unusual experiments, including a PK film photographically recording at 400 frames per second the passing of a medical pill through glass, including frames showing the penetration process (Huo, 1987). An important sign of the military support of the field is that this film, was awarded a "Scientific Research Achievement Prize" of the second class by the Spaceflight Department later in 1987, a recognition which must be unique in the history of parapsychology, especially in that it happened in a communist country. Some of his investigators did wonder if Zhang Baosheng ever cheated in his public demonstra- tions. They suspected that he did so to “save face" when he was not able to succeed honestly *After the Party’s April 1982 ruling, the informally published EFHB Bulletin attained quasi-official status as a restricted-circulation joumal under the name EFHB Research and continued to be produced by the personnel of NJ. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002600290003-0