Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo
Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo
David Dodwell
Opinion

Opinion

Inside Out by David Dodwell

US politicians linking Confucius Institutes with espionage is taking paranoia to the extreme

Chinese spies are certainly interested in stealing industrial secrets and US military technology, but they are certainly not doing it through these cultural outposts

David Dodwell
David Dodwell

Updated: 8:14pm, 19 Aug, 2018

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Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo
Confucius Institutes are working hard to spread understanding of Chinese culture, and to teach Chinese language overseas. Since their foundation in 2005 they have grown to over 525 institutions in 146 countries, including the US. Photo: AP Photo
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David Dodwell

David Dodwell

David Dodwell is the executive director of the Hong Kong-APEC Trade Policy Study Group, a trade policy think tank.