Chapter 579: A One-Sided Denial

"Perhaps the first issue will feature 'How to Build a Spaceship with Chopsticks'?" another editor joked, drawing a round of laughter.

Thomson waved his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet: "Regardless, this is an interesting news hook. Give this story a medium-sized spread, and for the headline, use 'Newcomer in the Scientific World? Long Country Announces Launch of "Top-Tier" Scientific Journal,' keep the tone slightly sarcastic, but don't go overboard."

"Understood," a young editor took the assignment, "I'll find a few authorities in the scientific community to comment on it. Guess what they'll say?"

"Do we even need to guess?" Thomson laughed heartily, "It will surely be a chorus of mockery. The authority of a scientific journal requires decades or even centuries of accumulation; it cannot be established overnight. The people of Long Country simply don't understand the rules of the international academic circle."

Laughter erupted in the editorial office once more, and everyone treated this as a joke not worth mentioning. Longxin technology had indeed shocked them, but that was viewed as an exception, an accidental technological breakthrough, which did not mean Long Country had a voice in the entire scientific field.

Launching some "international top-tier journal"? It was simply a pipe dream!

Beijixiong Guo, Moscow, Kremlin.

"This is Long Country's so-called 'breakthrough research achievement'."

Koriakin sneered: "Just another political propaganda tool. Scientific journals require recognition from the international academic community; authority cannot be established by government decree."

Kravchenko, President of the Academy of Sciences, spoke cautiously: "Comrade First Secretary, considering Long Country's recent performance in the technological field, perhaps we should not completely ignore this news."

"Are you talking about Longxin-III?" Koriakin waved his hand, "That was just an accidental technological breakthrough, possibly because they stole Western research results. In terms of overall scientific strength, Long Country is still far behind us."

Kravchenko wanted to retort, but seeing the First Secretary's firm gaze, he chose to remain silent.

"In any case," Koriakin continued, "closely monitor the content of the inaugural issue of *Cangjie*. If there is anything truly worth noting, report it immediately."

"Yes, Comrade First Secretary." The Intelligence Chief nodded in acknowledgment.

After the meeting ended, Kravchenko walked alone along the long corridor of the Kremlin, his heart filled with unease. As a scientist, he understood the research strength represented by Longxin technology better than the politicians. If Long Country had truly achieved similar breakthroughs in other fields...

He shook his head, casting aside this unsettling thought. Even if Long Country possessed certain leading technologies, it was impossible to establish a scientific journal with international influence in a short period. Academic authority required time and the collective recognition of global scholars; it could not be built overnight.

London, Royal Society.

A hastily convened luncheon was underway, and the topic was naturally the *Cangjie* journal just announced by Long Country.

"It's simply a joke," Sir Allen, President of the Royal Society, scoffed, "A country that has just emerged from civil war wants to compete on the international academic stage with Western scientific traditions that have centuries of history?"

"Longxin technology is indeed impressive," a physics professor admitted, "but that is more like an isolated technological success rather than systematic research strength."

"More importantly," the deputy editor of *Nature* sneered, "the authority of a scientific journal comes from rigorous peer review and long-term accumulated academic credibility. Long Country lacks both. Their so-called 'top-tier journal' is nothing more than a government brochure."

A burst of approving laughter rose around the table.

"I bet their submission inbox will become a wastepaper recycling bin," another scientist quipped, "Besides their own scholars, who would go there to submit?"

Sir Allen raised his glass: "Let us toast to the enduring vitality of the Western scientific tradition. It has withstood the test of history and will continue to lead the forward direction of human knowledge."

Everyone raised their glasses, their faces wearing confident and slightly arrogant smiles. In their view, the appearance of *Cangjie* was merely a small interlude in the history of science, not even worth taking seriously.

Paris, inside an Advanced café.

Several famous scientists and academic journal editors were heatedly discussing the news of *Cangjie*.

"Have you read that statement?" the editor-in-chief of *Scientific Frontiers* asked with a smile, "'International top-tier academic journal,' what a confident expression!"

"The scientific community does not gain status by self-proclamation," a Nobel Prize winner in physics said, shaking his head, "It is earned through the rigorous research and continuous innovation of generations of scholars. The people of Long Country do not seem to understand this point."

"We should maintain an open attitude," a young biology professor said gently, "After all, science knows no borders. If *Cangjie* can truly publish high-quality research results..."

"Oh, come on," the editor-in-chief interrupted him, "do you really think there will be any 'breakthrough research achievements'? At most, it will be a collection of second-rate papers packaged as major discoveries. This is political propaganda, not science."

"Longxin technology is indeed surprising," the young professor insisted, "perhaps we shouldn't be so dogmatic..."

"Longxin is an exception," the Nobel Prize winner asserted, "it might be an isolated breakthrough achieved by concentrating national resources in one field. True scientific strength requires a comprehensive research system and a climate of Freedom for academic inquiry, both of which Long Country lacks."

The discussion in the café continued, and despite sporadic dissenting voices, the mainstream view remained one of skepticism and disdain. In the eyes of the Western academic community, the emergence of *Cangjie* was just an interesting cultural phenomenon, not a truly significant academic event.

Star-Spangled Country, inside a well-known university campus.

The campus radio station was broadcasting the latest international news, which included the news of Long Country launching the *Cangjie* journal.

"Hey, did you hear?" a physics student said to a friend, "Long Country is going to run some international scientific journal, and they even call it 'top-tier'!"

"Ha! Are they going to announce the discovery of aliens next?" another student laughed loudly.

Inside the campus café, a group of students sat in a circle, heatedly discussing the topic.

"I think this is quite interesting," an Asian student said cautiously, "Long Country has indeed made breakthroughs in the field of computers..."

"That's only because they stole our technology!" a tall, blonde student interrupted him, "Don't be naive, they have no original research capability at all."

"Exactly," another student chimed in, "science requires free thought and a critical spirit; how could that kind of autocratic country produce real scientific research?"

The Asian student wanted to retort, but seeing the expressions of agreement all around, he ultimately chose to remain silent.

The various discussions and jokes on campus soon evolved into a small debate, with the theme: "Can backward countries produce international first-class scientific research?" The answer was almost one-sided—a denial.