China.

Influence of Confucius Institutes on U.S. college campuses has some concerned

By SHAWNE K. WICKHAM

New Hampshire Sunday News

February 24. 2018

Amid all the focus on Russian meddling in the U.S. electoral process, some officials are warning about influence by a different world power: China.

And one target of their concern is the proliferation of Confucius Institutes on more than 100 American college campuses - including the University of New Hampshire.

The institutes, which teach Chinese language, history and culture, are funded by China's ministry of education.

In a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this month, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told FBI Director Christopher Wray he believes that Confucius Institutes are "complicit" in Chinese government efforts "to covertly influence public opinion and to teach half-truths designed to present Chinese history, government or official policy in the most favorable light."

Wray replied that the FBI shares the concern and has been "watching that development for a while."

"We have seen some decrease recently in their own enthusiasm and commitment to that particular program, but it is something that we're watching warily and, in certain instances, have developed, you know, appropriate investigative steps," Wray said. He did not elaborate and the hearing moved on to other topics.

UNH has hosted a Confucius Institute on its Durham campus since 2010. The partnership came under fire from UNH faculty in the past, but the controversy died down after UNH took steps to address their concerns

https://www.unionleader.com/Influence-of-Confucius-Institutes-on-U.S.-college-campuses-has-some-concerned