UK Cuts Ties: Britain Axes Funding for Controversial Confucius Institutes
UK Government Stops Funding Confucius Institutes Amid Concerns Over Chinese Influence
Moscow, September 22 (Sputnik) – The British government has completely stopped state funding for China-sponsored Confucius Institutes in the country due to concerns about possible Chinese influence.
Background
In the spring of 2023, the Financial Times quoted a statement from the UK government’s press office as saying that despite former Prime Minister Sunak’s election promise to close the Confucius Institute, the government decided to abandon its previous plan to close the Confucius Institute.
The newspaper quoted a spokesman for the British Prime Minister’s Office as saying that measures are being taken to stop providing any state funding to the Confucius Institute in the UK, but closing the Confucius Institute is currently excessive.
Current Situation
The Daily Telegraph said: “The measures to stop subsidizing (Confucius Institutes – Editor) have now been completed, which means that Confucius Institutes no longer receive funding from the UK government.”
There are currently 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK, according to The Daily Telegraph, which added that whether to close the centres remains an open question amid growing concerns about Chinese influence at British universities.
Concerns Over Chinese Influence
Chris Patten, the chancellor of Oxford University and the last governor of Hong Kong, told the Daily Telegraph that there is evidence in the UK that some Confucius Institutes are trying to influence the development of universities. However, he did not specify in what way.