Confucius Institute closed at US university amid concerns about Chinese influence on campuses
Senator Marco Rubio has been among US lawmakers warning that the Confucius Institute was an effort by China to expand its political influence abroad
The University of North Florida will close a campus branch of a Chinese-run cultural institute, the latest US college to do so amid criticism from US legislators that China uses the institute to influence American higher education.
The Jacksonville-based university said on Tuesday it had determined after “careful consideration” that the Confucius Institute, which opened a branch there in 2014 to promote language and culture, did not meet the university’s mission.
“After reviewing the classes, activities and events sponsored over the past four years and comparing them with the mission and goals of the university, it was determined that they weren’t aligned,” the university said in a statement.
It did not elaborate on the reasons for ending the partnership, but said the institute would be closed in February, fulfilling a legal obligations to provide six months’ notice for ending the contract.
The Confucius Institute headquarters in Beijing and China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.