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

The Guardian UK Saturday 24 October 2026, 01:21 UTC By Reuters 1 min read

Key Points

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

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.

Pentagon (ORG) China (LOCATION) US (LOCATION) Defense (ORG) Pete Hegseth (PERSON) Confucius Institutes (ORG) university campusesThe ⁠US defense department (ORG) Chinese (ORG) Confucius (PERSON) Pete ⁠Hegseth (PERSON) Washington (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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