This paper in progress will take the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and its related indicators as a lens to examine its penetration into the Chinese scientific landscape, to reflect on how these quantitative journal indicators embedded in and changed the science evaluation ecosystem of China profoundly, and to explore the implications of employing quantified metrics as instruments of governance in the context of authoritarian regime.

Over the past two decades, the JIF and its associated metrics have seen widespread and intensive utilization as primary indicators for evaluating a broad spectrum of research-related activities in China. This includes assessing research quality, determining staff recruitment, facilitating career advancement, distributing awards, shaping university and disciplinary rankings, and directing funding and resource allocation. The extensive adoption of these metrics has significantly contributed to China's emergence as one of the leading global producers of scientific publications. Additionally, these pivotal metrics have played a substantial role in delineating China's geopolitical standing in the international scientific landscape, positioning it as a major influencer.

However, the heightened reliance on publications indexed in the Web of Science, formerly known as the Science Citation Index, has also given rise to the phenomenon known as "SCI worship" in China. Furthermore, the misuse of the JIF as a quantitative measure for research assessment, coupled with the practice of offering monetary incentives for publishing in high-impact journals, has inadvertently encouraged unethical behavior. This includes the proliferation of fraudulent practices such as mass paper retractions and paper mill issues.