At an Oct. 26 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun rejected the Pentagon’s designation of Confucius Institutes as national security threats, saying interference could undermine educational ties between China and the United States.
Guo said educational exchanges benefit people in both countries. He called the designation “targeted smearing and stigmatisation” and said such exchanges should not be undermined.
The Pentagon’s Oct. 23 designation was announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He alleged that 80 new groups he called “propaganda cells” had appeared at 30 universities under different names and charters. Hegseth also said the Pentagon had dismantled them during the two months before the announcement.
The Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF) counted 513 Confucius Institutes in 164 countries and regions as of Dec. 31, 2025. The foundation describes the institutes’ work as language teaching and cultural exchange. AFP reported that institutes have also closed in France, Sweden, Australia and Canada following allegations of foreign interference.
