US Defense Department Lists Chinese-Funded Confucius Institutes as National Security Threat

Key summary

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on October 23 that the US military has designated China-funded Confucius Institutes at various universities as threats to national security. Washington has long accused these institutes of acting as Chinese propaganda tools and has systematically shut down organizations over the past two months. Hegseth, speaking in a social media video, noted that 80 new propaganda groups emerged across 30 universities using different names but sharing the mission of stealing intellectual property and influencing American students. The US Defense Department added these institutes to its list of national security threats. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.