A new chapter in #MeToo appears to be emerging in China after a university professor was sacked and another is facing an investigation over sexual misconduct allegations.

The #MeToo campaign spread rapidly in the West in October after multiple accusations against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Allegations have been made against men in China – particularly within academia - but the movement has struggled to gain momentum in a country where the media and Internet are controlled by a stability-obsessed, male dominated Communist Party.

However, on Thursday a Beijing university said it had sacked one of its top scholars after he was accused of sexual misconduct by a group of women.

Beihang University said on its official microblog that an investigation found that Chen Xiaowu‘s behavior had violated professional ethics and created an “odious influence on society.”

The university said: “Morality and ability, and actions and talent are as one. This is the demand of Beihang‘s values and the school has zero tolerance for violations of professorial ethics,”