China-led Index Lists 6,132 World-Class Science Journals, 353 From China

The directory's significance lies less in its size than in its function: it is an attempt by Chinese institutions to define what counts as a top-tier journal, a form of standard-setting that has historically rested with Western publishers and indexes. The 353 Chinese titles included suggest the list is not purely descriptive but also a benchmarking tool for domestic research policy. Whether such China-led lists gain recognition from funders, universities and researchers outside China is the open question.