China slams US move to designate Confucius Institutes as security threat

China has condemned the United States for categorizing Confucius Institutes as a threat to national security, calling the move a misrepresentation of its educational and cultural initiatives. American officials have characterized the centres as instruments of propaganda serving Beijing's political agenda.

The Confucius Institutes operate in universities and cultural venues across the globe, offering Chinese language instruction, cultural programmes, and academic exchanges. Washington has increasingly questioned their independence and suggested they function as extensions of the Chinese government's influence operations.

Chinese authorities maintain that the institutes serve purely educational purposes and facilitate cross-cultural understanding. They argue the US classification reflects growing hostility toward China and attempts to restrict legitimate cultural exchanges.

The designation represents a continuation of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over spheres of influence, particularly regarding educational institutions and cultural diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region. Other Western nations have similarly increased scrutiny of Confucius Institutes in recent years, with some governments imposing greater regulatory oversight or limiting their campus presence.