Global Conference of Confucius Institutes in China (December 7/8)

On occasion of the 9th global Conference of Confucius Institutes (December 7/8) in Xiamen, China, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) demands that the German Bundestag should conduct a hearing to clarify what consequences the expansion of the Confucius Institutes has for the freedom of science at German universities. "The Bundestag should follow the example of the US Congress and conduct a hearing to ascertain whether a close connection between the Institutes of Sinology and the Confucius Institutes might undermine scientific independence," said Ulrich Delius, the STP's China-expert, in Göttingen on Moday.

Last Thursday, the US Congress had conducted a hearing to question the growing influence of Confucius Institutes at universities in the United States. There were examples in which Confucius Institutes had disinvited guest speakers for supporting constitutional reforms in China. In Canada, there is a broad public debate on the Confucius Institutes' influence on teaching and scientific research too.

Currently, there are 475 Confucius Institutes in 126 countries – 16 institutes in Germany alone. Many of the German university professors are in leading positions both at the Chairs of Sinology and at the Confucius Institute. The Confucius Institutes are considered to be a successful element of the Chinese government's "soft power"-strategy to improve the tarnished image of the People's Republic in other countries. One of the main objectives of the Confucius Institutes – repeatedly confirmed by the World Conference – is to work towards an improvement of China's reputation.

"We welcome the fact that the Confucius Institutes are spreading the Chinese language and culture, but we must criticize the propagated positive image of the People's Republic," said Delius. "China is complex. I must be seen with all its upsides and downsides. This also applies to science in Germany: all aspects of Chinese society must be considered, unconditionally. We have great doubts whether research at an institute of Sinology that is closely connected to the Confucius Institutes will not be affected by self-censorship. "Ten years after the founding of the Confucius Institutes, it is now time to take stock.

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Asia department, is available for further questions: +49 551 49906 27 or asien@gfbv.de.

Header Photo: Global Confucius Institute Conference, Beijing/Flickr