Culture & Entertainment · Singapore Bureau
China denounces US security designation of Confucius Institutes
Beijing has condemned Washington's decision to classify Chinese-funded cultural centres operating on American university campuses as national security threats. China's foreign ministry rejected what it called US attempts to smear the educational institutions.
LSN Singapore ·
China's foreign ministry accused the United States on Monday of "smearing and stigmatisation" following the Pentagon's Friday designation of Confucius Institutes as security risks to American national security.
The institutes, funded by the Chinese government, operate cultural and language programmes at universities across the United States. The Pentagon's classification marks an escalation in US scrutiny of the centres, which Washington has increasingly viewed with suspicion in recent years.
Beijing characterised the move as an attempt to undermine educational and cultural exchange between the two countries. The foreign ministry's statement reflected growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over intellectual property concerns, research security, and influence operations within American academic institutions.
The dispute reflects broader US-China friction over technology, espionage allegations, and cultural influence. American lawmakers and intelligence officials have raised concerns about data collection and potential links between the institutes and Chinese government surveillance activities, claims China has previously dismissed as unfounded.