Beyond journal rankings: Reassessing research evaluation in China

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Journal Ranking Table was discontinued in 2026, ending more than two decades of operation and ushering China's research evaluation system into a new period of transition. The ranking had long shaped journal selection, the recognition of research output, and the career trajectories of early-career researchers. Yet its growing incorporation into graduation requirements, academic promotion, and funding decisions also intensified concerns over excessive dependence on journal labels. In the post-CAS-ranking era, simply replacing the former system with another hierarchy-or abandoning journal-based indicators altogether-may fail to accommodate the heterogeneity of disciplines and research outputs. Future assessment frameworks should therefore use quantitative indicators more cautiously, integrate expert judgment, and place greater emphasis on originality, methodological rigor, reproducibility, and scientific, clinical, and societal contribution. Equally important, transitional arrangements that are transparent, stable, and predictable will be essential to reduce uncertainty for early-career researchers and to foster a more credible and sustainable research evaluation ecosystem.