over what many scholars and Chinese complain are?

I've not well grasped the grammar of "what certain people say are."

Is " what are" the main part? And the "what" is what "certain people say"?

hand-wringing over what certain people say are widespread bad practices.

I've not well grasped the grammar of "what certain people say are."

Is " what are" the main part? And the "what" is what "certain people say"?

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Does this paraphrase help you any, Ori?

concern [possibly false concern] over practices that certain people say are widespread and bad.

Yes, I've better sense in understanding the use of "that" than "what." It is clearer.

Does it mean?

concern over practices that (that certain people say) are widespread and bad.

Original: The exposure of Mr. Zhang’s faked credentials provoked a fresh round of hand-wringing over what many scholars and Chinese complain are the dishonest practices that permeate society, including students who cheat on college entrance exams, scholars who promote fake or unoriginal research, and dairy companies that sell poisoned milk to infants.



Not just concern. 'handwringing' denotes false concern, people overreacting, "my oh my, the sky is falling" type people.

Paraphrased: The exposure of Mr. Zhang’s faked credentials provoked a fresh round of people overreacting, complaining about those things that many scholars and Chinese complain are the dishonest practices that permeate society, including students who cheat on college entrance exams, scholars who promote fake or unoriginal research, and dairy companies that sell poisoned milk to infants.