Senate approves bill to tighten controls on China-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. university campuses

Senate approves bill to tighten controls on China-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. university campuses

The Senate on Thursday approved by unanimous consent “” without a roll-call vote “” a bill that would increase oversight on Confucius Institutes, China-funded cultural centers that operate on university campuses.

According to Human Rights Watch, Confucius Institutes "are Chinese government-funded outposts that offer Chinese language and culture classes." However, some politicians, particularly Republicans, have accused them of spreading propaganda.

"Confucius Institutes are under the control of the Chinese Communist Party in all but name," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who introduced the bill. "This bill would give colleges and universities full control over their resident Confucius Institutes and restore freedom of thought on their campuses." 

In 2020, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced a similar bill. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., one of that bill's co-sponsors, said, "For far too long, the Communist Chinese government has attempted to infiltrate American universities through the disguise of the government-run Confucius Institute."

The bill approved by the Senate on Thursday, S-590, would cut federal funding to universities and colleges that have Confucius Institutes on campus that don't comply with new oversight rules and regulations.

The bill will next be sent to the House for consideration.

In her Senate confirmation hearing in January, recently confirmed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield came