Publication Ethics

All parties involved in the publication process of the Journal of Sinology (JSINO)—including editors, reviewers, and authors—are expected to observe the following ethical responsibilities:

1. Editors

       Independence and Fairness: Editorial decisions are based solely on the academic merit, originality, and relevance of manuscripts to the journal’s scope. Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, political orientation, or institutional affiliation is not tolerated.

        Confidentiality and Integrity: Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information is shared only with those directly involved in the editorial and peer review process. Author and reviewer identities remain anonymous under the double-blind peer review system. Unpublished material must never be used for personal research or advantage.

        Accountability: The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial board and reviewers, is responsible for final publication decisions. Suspected cases of plagiarism, falsification, or other misconduct are thoroughly investigated, and confirmed violations may result in rejection, retraction, or other corrective measures.

        Conflicts of Interest: Editors and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest. Privileged information obtained during the review process may not be used for personal purposes.

2. Reviewers

       Confidentiality and Impartiality: Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality and must not use information from manuscripts for personal gain. They should decline assignments where a conflict of interest exists.

       Objective Evaluation: Reviews should be conducted fairly, professionally, and free from bias. Constructive and respectful feedback should be provided to help authors improve their work.

       Academic Integrity: Reviewers should identify missing citations and alert the editorial team to possible plagiarism, fabrication, or significant overlap with existing publications.

       Timeliness and Responsibility: Reviews must be submitted within the agreed timeframe. If unable to complete a review or lacking expertise in the subject, reviewers should notify the editors immediately.

3. Authors

       Responsibility for Content: Authors are accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submissions, including research design, data, and conclusions.

       Constructive Engagement: Authors must respond to editorial and peer review feedback in good faith and revise their manuscripts to meet the journal’s academic standards.

       Academic Honesty: Plagiarism in any form—including verbatim copying, paraphrasing without attribution, or misrepresentation of others’ work—is strictly prohibited. All sources must be cited appropriately in accordance with APA 7th edition.

       Authorship Transparency: Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the research and writing. Supporting contributors should be acknowledged but not listed as authors. Misrepresentation of authorship is a serious violation.

       Originality and Exclusivity: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere. Multiple or simultaneous submissions are unacceptable.

       Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: All funding sources and potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed.