The recent election of a Chinese scientist to a leading US academy after being shunned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has sparked debate.

Shi Yigong, professor and dean of Tsinghua University's School of Life Sciences, is the youngest of 21 foreign associates selected by the National Academy of Sciences, based in the United States.

His election was in recognition of his "distinguished and continuing achievements in original research", according to the academy's website on Tuesday.