Key takeaways
China condemned the US for labeling Confucius Institutes as national security threats, describing the move as targeted smearing. Washington has imposed funding restrictions on these centers, viewing them as propaganda tools for the Chinese Communist Party.
- China accused the US of stigmatizing Confucius Institutes and argued such actions undermine beneficial educational exchanges between the two nations.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated his department dismantled dozens of organizations deemed national security threats that had reappeared under different names.
- Confucius Institutes, established in over 150 countries, offer language and cultural programs but face increasing global resistance and scrutiny.
Summarised automatically by AI from the original article by Malay Mail. AI can make mistakes, so check the original for details.
BEIJING, Oct 26 — China accused the United States on Monday of “targeted smearing” over Washington’s designation of Beijing-funded Confucius Institute cultural centres as national security threats.
Washington considers the centres on American university campuses as propaganda tools of the Chinese Communist Party and has imposed funding restrictions on the institutes since 2025.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday his department had dismantled dozens of similar organisations over two months that had reappeared in disguise, “using different names... but with the same mission” and deemed them a threat to national security.
“We oppose the targeted smearing and stigmatisation of Confucius Institutes,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news conference.
