China’s ruling government is officially a “Communist” party, but it appears to have little in common these days with Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, or Mao Zedong for that matter. Indeed, the modern Chinese government seems to have more in common with Confucius, a philosopher whose thoughts have held sway for thousands of years. That Confucian heritage now appears to be helping the Chinese government influence American universities.
American security experts are warning that the 100-plus Confucius Institutes set up on American college campuses are actually spy hubs and are used to push propaganda.
Many Americans likely know little about Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher. However, many college students have encountered “Confucius Institutes” on campus. Given that the teachings of Confucius generally promoted wise, kind, and humble leadership, along with the pursuit of wisdom and other virtuous things, these institutes must be pretty innocuous, right?
Perhaps not. American security experts are warning that the 100-plus Confucius Institutes set up on American college campuses are actually spy hubs and are used to push propaganda. The institutes are also used to keep an eye on the 300,000-plus Chinese students in America, as well as to quell criticism of the Chinese government.
The Institutes are funded through Hanban, a Chinese government entity. Hanban’s approach has been subtle. Rather than trying to rig elections or steal important government secrets, the institutes seem to primarily exist to build up positive opinions towards China.
The use of Confucius is particularly interesting. The Communist Party under Mao had labeled Confucianism as “backward” and “counter-revolutionary.” As China has abandoned its “Communist” vestige, it has also slowly re-embraced Confucianism.
However backward Confucius’s teachings might have seemed in the 1940s and ’50s, much of what he said meshes well with the modern-day Chinese government. Among other things, Confucius emphasized social harmony, respect for elders, and the rule of leaders.
Americans might not necessarily agree with Confucius. However, his ideas are certainly less threatening than Mao’s. This makes the Confucius Institutes a more ideal way to influence American academia. Being non-profits and reliant on a mix of tuition, government funds, and private donations, universities aren’t quick to turn away funding sources, even from entities like the Chinese government.
However, the United States’ intelligence community and members of Congress are both warning that the institutes have ulterior motives. Besides potentially harboring spies, it appears that the institutes are trying to influence the way Americans think. More specifically, the institutes want to make a “good” impression on America’s future leaders.
FBI Director Christopher Wray vocally raised his concerns during a meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee. The FBI is apparently investigating some of the institutes and watching others with a wary eye.
Senator Marc Rubio (R-Fl) has described the Chinese government’s efforts as follows:
“Their goal is to exploit America’s academic freedom to instill in the minds of future leaders a pro-China viewpoint. It’s smart. It’s a long-term, patient approach.”
So far, several universities have rejected funding from the Chinese government, including Penn State University, the University of Chicago, and the University of West Florida.
