In Australia, at least half a dozen major Australian universities have recently closed down their Confucius Institutes. These institutes had been teaching Chinese language and culture classes abroad since their founding. This decision comes amid increasing concerns from the Australian government regarding the potential influence of these institutes, which are linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Confucius Institutes have been portrayed by China as a “bridge reinforcing friendship” with the world, promoting cultural exchange and understanding. These critics say that the institutes have become tools for Beijing to spread their propaganda and surveil Chinese international students. Human Rights Watch has further described these companies as “extensions of the Chinese government.” In support of their argument, they describe several examples of censorship related to politically contentious topics.
In recent years, the Australian government has intensified its scrutiny of Confucius Institutes, leading to significant changes on university campuses. To date, six Australian universities have quietly closed their Confucius Institutes. Unsurprisingly, of all these institutes, almost half have closed their doors across Australia. The closures hit home by impacting widely known institutions like MMFA. They are supported by the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia, the University of New South Wales and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
The University of Melbourne partnered with Nanjing University to set up its Confucius Institute in 2007. Yet, the university plans to shutter the institute in August 2024. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for the university emphasized that there was “no further requirement to reauthorize” its contract with the institute.
Fears over these institutes grew after news reports emerged in 2019. They exposed that candidates for volunteer teaching positions were required to demonstrate political allegiance to the Chinese government. This has sent shockwaves through Australia, warning that foreign governments are coming into our schools and influencing our students and public discourse.
Additionally, the Australian government has indicated that it will not permit any new Confucius Institutes to open within the country. One by one, these universities chose not to renew contracts with these institutes. As justification, they referenced the course disruptions inflicted by the Covid pandemic, which disrupted all levels of society.
This trend is representative of a growing skepticism towards foreign influence in Australian institutions more broadly and an increasing desire to protect academic integrity. As universities increasingly realize the moral and reputational hazards of these sticky questions, we can only hope that Confucius Institutes become history.