US Department of War Blacklists Confucius Institutes as National Security Threat

Key summary

On October 23, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced via social media that the US Department of War has designated Confucius Institutes as a threat to national security. Hegseth alleged that these organizations operate covertly within US universities under different names and bylaws to disseminate propaganda and steal intellectual property. He claimed to have identified 80 new propaganda entities across 30 universities. The US government stated it is systematically working to terminate their operations, though details were not disclosed. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not yet responded. This announcement follows previous actions, such as the Trump administration's 2020 designation of Confucius Institute U.S. Centers (CIUS) as foreign missions requiring transparency. Reports from The Guardian and other sources cite concerns regarding academic freedom and alleged interference in various countries.