US set to make China’s Confucius Institutes register as ‘foreign missions’
- Government-funded programme that teaches Chinese language and culture overseas facing growing scrutiny by Trump administration
- Designation would subject Confucius Institutes, many based on university campuses, to rules similar to those for embassies and consulates
The Trump administration is increasing scrutiny of a long-established Chinese-government funded programme that is dedicated to teaching Chinese language and culture in the US and other nations, the latest escalation of tensions with Beijing.
The State Department plans to announce as soon as Thursday that Confucius Institutes in the US – many of which are based on college campuses – will need to register as “foreign missions”, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.
The designation would amount to a conclusion that Confucius Institutes are “substantially owned or effectively controlled” by a foreign government. That would subject them to administrative requirements similar to those for embassies and consulates.
The State Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, took similar action toward several Chinese media outlets earlier this year.
He called them “Chinese government-run programmes that use the teaching of Chinese language and culture as a tool to expand the political influence” of the government.