Confucius Institutes (CI; Chinese: 孔子学院; pinyin: Kǒngzǐ Xuéyuàn) are public educational and cultural promotion programs funded and arranged currently by the Chinese International Education Foundation [zh] and formerly by Hanban, an organization affiliated with the Chinese government.[1] The stated aim of the program is to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate cultural exchanges.[2][3] The organization has been criticized over concerns of the Chinese government's undue overseas influence and suppression of academic freedom
There have been a number of reports pointing to controversial incidents in the past, including a former senior CCP official, Li Changchun's comment that Confucius Institutes are "an important part of China's overseas propaganda set-up".[13][1][5][14][15][4][16] In July 2020, Hanban announced its renaming to the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, stating that The Confucius Institute was handed over to Chinese International Education Foundation [zh], a self-described "non-governmental private organization".[17] On 13 August 2020, the United States Department of State designated the headquarters of the Confucius Institute in the U.S. as a foreign mission of the Chinese government.[18][19] This designation has been protested by the Center in an open letter to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
The first Confucius Institute opened on 21 November 2004 in Seoul, South Korea, after establishing a pilot institute in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in June 2004. The CI in South Korea is no longer active. The second Confucius Institute was opened on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, also in November 2004.[21] In 2006, the goal of 1,000 Confucius Institutes by 2020 was being discussed.[22]
Hundreds more have opened since in dozens of countries around the world.
In April 2007, the first research-based Confucius Institute opened in Waseda University in Japan. In partnership with Peking University, the program promotes research activities of graduate students studying Chinese.[23] In 2007, China's Ministry of Education estimated that 100 million people overseas would be learning Chinese by 2010.[24]
In 2010, the highest concentration of institutes was in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.[25]
From 2006 to 2019, the Chinese government spent more than $150 million on institutes in the U.S.[26] The number of institutes in the U.S. peaked in 2018, at around 100, with the total around the world being about 550.[26]
As of 2019, there were 530 Confucius Institutes in dozens of countries on six continents.
DEVOLUTION POWER HOUR - GREGG PHILLIPS INTERVIEW
Devolution Power Hour - PIT Insights
"Confucius" = 666 (English Sumerian)
"November 21st 2004" = 1111 (Jewish)
From Sun Nov 21 2004 to Wed Mar 11 2020 = 15 years 111 days
"CI" = 15 (Reverse Full Reduction)
"Confucius" = 111 (English Ordinal)
From Thu Nov 21 2019 to Wed Mar 11 2020 = 111 days
"Confucius" = 111 (English Ordinal)
"Chinese International Education Foundation" = 222 (Reverse Full Reduction)
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