You have to laugh when US calls Confucius Institutes 'spy agency'

The government accountable office, the supreme audit institution of the federal government of the United States, released a report on Feb 27, which says that it found Confucius Institutes on US campuses play largely positive roles and assertions that they interfered with US academic freedom were unfounded. Li Ye, a veteran Chinese teacher for foreigners, comments in an article for Guancha.cn:

Yet on the same day, the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said that the Confucius Institute program gives China too much control over programs in the United States, claiming the program is a threat to academic freedom and national security.

These contradictory views reflect the US government's mixed sentiments about the Confucius Institutes.

It is natural for countries to promote their own culture and language. The European countries for instance have the Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes and Alliance Francaise programs worldwide. They assume largely the same role and operate in a similar manner to China's Confucius Institutes.

It is the needs of US domestic politics that have prompted some to demonize a normal cultural program that aims to promote mutual understanding among different peoples.

There are more than 100 US universities hosting Confucius Institutes, which typically offer Chinese language courses. The instructors consist of volunteers or public school teachers, who are not only fluent in English and Mandarin, but also familiar with local culture and Chinese culture.

In fact, the Chinese teachers for foreigners focus on culture and language, and intentionally avoid discussing political and ideological issues at the institutes.

Only when the students are motivated to take the initiative to learn will they enjoy a sense of gain from studying Mandarin and learning about China. The studies are no different from those in other schools in the US, which are not considered brainwashing.

The US universities have a developed Chinese language teaching system that dates back to World War II, which stresses speaking while China's Chinese teaching emphasizes writing more. This is the biggest difference between US and Chinese teaching.

Given the difference, it is absurd to assert that the US one respects academic freedom while labeling the Chinese one as brainwashing.