Pentagon labels Confucius Institutes a US national security threat
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Chinese‑funded campus centers pose a security risk, citing 80 new propaganda cells at 30 universities.
At a glance
- Pentagon designated Confucius Institutes as a threat to US national security.
- Hegseth reported 80 new propaganda cells at 30 US universities aimed at stealing intellectual property and influencing students.
- The Defense Department claims to have dismantled all such organizations in the past two months.
The US Defense Department has designated Chinese‑funded cultural centers on university campuses known as Confucius Institutes as a threat to US national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday. The announcement, made in a video posted on social media, came as Washington continues its long‑standing crackdown on what it views as Chinese propaganda tools.
Pentagon action Hegseth alleged that Confucius Institutes are operating under false pretenses at US universities and have been added to the Pentagon’s list of institutions that endanger national security. “It turns out that 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds of American students,” he said.
The Defense Department said it has “systematically dismantled every single one of these organizations” over the past two months, signaling a coordinated effort to remove the centers from American campuses.
Longstanding concerns Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being instruments of Chinese propaganda and has taken steps to limit their influence on academic institutions. The latest designation reflects the administration’s view that the institutes continue to pose a strategic risk despite previous closures.
Chinese embassy response The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Pentagon’s announcement.
Source: The Guardian World
Questions and answers
- Why did the Pentagon label Confucius Institutes a security threat?
- Secretary Hegseth said they operate as propaganda cells seeking to steal intellectual property and influence American students.
- How many new cells were identified on US campuses?
- Hegseth cited 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities.
- What has been the Chinese government’s response?
- The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the Pentagon’s designation.
