China attacks new US demand to register Confucius Institutes

14/8/2020 19:41

        China accused the United States on Friday of trying to "demonize and stigmatize" relations between the two countries, in a scathing attack on the Trump administration's designation of Chinese-funded language and culture programs in the U.S. as foreign missions of the Chinese Communist Party.
        
        Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said branches of the Confucius Institute U.S. Center operating at U.S. schools and colleges are a "bridge and link to help people from all over the world learn Chinese, understand China, and strengthen educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries."
        
        Zhao said the accusations against the institutes were without basis and were motivated by "ideological prejudice and self-interest."