Pentagon designates China-backed campus cultural centers a threat to US national security

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth alleges Confucius Institutes operating in disguise on US university campuses The ⁠US defense department has designated Chinese-funded cultural centers on university campuses ⁠known as Confucius ⁠Institutes as a threat to US national security, defense secretary Pete ⁠Hegseth said on Friday. Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda ⁠tools and has taken steps to crack down on them. Continue reading...

Reuters · Fri, Oct 23, 2026, 6:21 PM
US news | The Guardian

Pentagon designates China-backed campus cultural centers a threat to US national security

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth alleges Confucius Institutes operating in disguise on US university campuses

The ⁠US defense department has designated Chinese-funded cultural centers on university campuses ⁠known as Confucius ⁠Institutes as a threat to US national security, defense secretary Pete ⁠Hegseth said on Friday.

Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda ⁠tools and has taken steps to crack down on them.

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