MIAMI.- A group of senators Republicans including Floridian Marco Rubiothey asked for “greater attention” from the White House about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in associations that are part of the country’s educational institutions.
In a letter sent in recent days to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senators Tim Scott, Kevin Cramer, Ted Budd, Mike Braun, Mike Crapo, Pete Ricketts, Thom Tillis and Cynthia Lummis, as well as Rubio, expressed concern about the impact of the PCC on the Chinese Students and Academics Associations (CSSA).
The fear and call for attention expressed in the communication is related to the new steps taken by the PCC to influence universities and colleges in the United States, after the closure of some centers of the Confucius Institute, associated with China.
The closure of these institutions is due to several reasons, including accusations of propaganda, censorship and espionage by the Chinese regime. According to some countries, this organization is a tool of influence for the PCC.
Concern about China
In 2020, The United States classified the Confucius Institute as a “foreign mission” and imposed restrictions on it. Six other countries have also closed these centers for the dissemination of Chinese culture.
In their letter, Republican senators argued that these associations, supposedly created to support Chinese students abroad, have been identified by the FBI as extensions of the Chinese party-state.
“There are concerns that these organizations could be used to intimidate and monitor Chinese students abroad, while promoting Beijing’s foreign policies,” the lawmakers said.
The letter also mentions cases in which the PCC “tries to control its citizen-students from afar”urging them to show patriotic loyalty and support specific policies, such as attempted reunification with Taiwan.
Additionally, there have been reported attempts to disrupt conferences that question CCP ideology, including debates on the genocide of the Uyghurs, according to the letter.
Lawmakers asked the Justice Department to consider whether CSSA chapters must be registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)arguing that these associations act as extensions of the PCC to shape public and political opinion in the US.
The Confucius Institute presents itself as a non-profit public institution with the purpose of promoting Chinese language and culture, supporting Chinese language teaching worldwide, and facilitating cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.
