Belgian university closes its Chinese state-funded Confucius Institute after spying claims

Vrije Universiteit Brussel says cooperating with the institute is no longer consistent with its policies

Security services had accused Song Xinning, former head of the institute at the university, of being a recruiter for Chinese intelligence

Reading Time:2 minutes

Confucius Institutes have been established in almost 500 higher education institutions globally. Photo: Doris Liu

Published: 7:30pm, 11 Dec 2019Updated: 11:29pm, 11 Dec 2019

One of Belgium’s leading universities has decided to close the Chinese state-funded Confucius Institute on its campus, following accusations that the former head professor conducted espionage for China.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) confirmed that it would not extend its contract with the institute when the agreement expires next June, although it did not refer to the espionage claims.

The university said cooperation with Confucius Institute – whose stated aims include promoting Chinese language and culture and facilitating cultural exchanges – was “not in line with [our] principles of free research”, based on the information it had obtained.

“The university is of the opinion that cooperating with the institution is no longer consistent with its policies and objectives,” it said in a statement on its website.

Song Xinning, pictured in 2016 at the University of Helsinki’s Confucius Institute, has been barred from entering a bloc of European countries. Photo: University of Helsinki website

In October, Belgian security services accused Song Xinning, former head of the Confucius Institute at VUB, of working as a recruiter for Chinese intelligence.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

Belgian university closes its Chinese state-funded Confucius Institute after spying claims

Vrije Universiteit Brussel says cooperating with the institute is no longer consistent with its policies Security services had accused Song Xinning, former head of the institute at the university, of being a recruiter for Chinese intelligence

Vrije Universiteit Brussel says cooperating with the institute is no longer consistent with its policies

Security services had accused Song Xinning, former head of the institute at the university, of being a recruiter for Chinese intelligence