Pentagon designates Confucius Institutes a national security threat

· Politics · United States · China

The Pentagon has designated Confucius Institutes in the US as a national security threat, according to a report. Washington has long accused the Chinese government-funded language and culture centres, often hosted on university campuses, of being propaganda tools and of allowing undue influence over academic research. The designation is likely to accelerate closures and complicate academic exchanges between the two countries. China's foreign ministry separately urged Washington to stop discriminatory measures against Chinese research institutions, saying scientific cooperation serves both sides' interests.

Why it matters：The Pentagon's move further decouples US and Chinese academic institutions and signals deeper scrutiny of Chinese state-linked influence on campuses.

Key points

  • Confucius Institutes are often hosted on US university campuses
  • Washington accuses them of being Chinese propaganda tools
  • China's foreign ministry urged the US to stop discriminatory measures

Sources (original reporting)

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