World News | Confucius Institute at UK University ‘is part of China’s foreign propaganda plan’

London [UK]27 December (ANI): British universities’ tie-up with Confucius Institutes exposes China’s “foreign propaganda program” to influence perceptions of Chinese policy and politics, Kaliph Anaz writes in Asian Lite International.

The Confucius Institute, dubbed by the UK as “the greatest threat to world security and prosperity in this century”, is managed by Hanban, an acronym for the Leading Group Office for the Promotion of Chinese Language (LSG).

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A few years after the establishment of the Confucius Institute Headquarters Council, it gradually integrated into the CCP’s propaganda system.

CCP attempts to use Confucius Institutes to infiltrate China studies in the UK; proposed strategy to launch a research-focused “Confucius China Studies Programme” (also known as the “New Confucius Sinology Programme”), which would allow Confucius Institutes to work with host institutions on PhD students According to Asian Lite International, scholars “understand China” tours, international conferences, and publication research assistance.

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There are around 30 Confucius Institutes in UK universities and 150 schools, and the Chinese government has funded around €46m. Their influence extends to British politics, academia and business.

The Hanban agreement clearly stated that Confucius Institutes must abide by the “one China” principle. According to the agreement with the Confucius Institute in the United Kingdom, Hanban distributed books such as “Tibet Economy”, “Investing in China”, “China’s Prosperity Road”, “The Communist Party of China”, “Contemporary China” and other books to influence the public’s perception of China; according to According to Asian Lite International, this behavior is an external propaganda through academia.

UK universities must also open a special bank account with the Bank of China in the name of the Confucius Institute; and set up a “start-up” fund for the Confucius Institute at least equivalent to Hanban’s annual contribution, nearly $150,000.

The UK Department of Education has tightened its stance on the Confucius Institutes, saying the government is “committed to doing more to accommodate China’s growing influence” and encouraging anyone with concerns about any Confucius Institute activities to report.

Officially, the Confucius Institutes promote the Chinese language and offer cultural classes, from calligraphy to cooking to tai chi. They also sponsor educational exchanges and host public events and lectures. The institutions are open to the public, Asian Lite International reported. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)