The future of the Confucius Institute in Bangor could be under threat, in plans announced by Tory leadership contender Rishi Sunak if he becomes Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak is in a run-off with Liz Truss for the top job, with Conservative members set to vote on the next PM over the summer.
In a speech on Monday, Mr Sunak said China is the biggest long-term threat to Britain, and he plans to curb the country’s ‘soft power’ by closing all of its 30 Confucius Institutes, which promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture, in the UK. There are three institutes in Wales, including one in Bangor, which is linked to the university. The other institutes in Wales are at Cardiff and University of Wales Trinity St. David’s.
Confucius Institutes are public educational and cultural promotion programs funded and arranged currently by the Chinese International Education Foundation and formerly by Hanban, an organization affiliated with the Chinese government. The stated aim of the program is to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate cultural exchanges. However, the organization has been criticized over concerns of the Chinese government’s undue overseas influence and suppression of academic freedom.
Mr Sunak accused China of “stealing our technology and infiltrating our universities”, pledging to work with US President Joe Biden to stand up to China at home and abroad.
Established in September 2012, the Confucius Institute at Bangor University is one of over 500 similar organisations worldwide. The Institute says: “In Bangor, this venture provides an important opportunity for the people, communities, businesses and organisations of north Wales to engage on a journey of understanding into modern and classical China.
“Conversely, the Institute enables us here in north Wales to promote our rich culture, language and heritage in its many forms to China; a cultural, educational and intellectual exchange that is embodied as a meeting of the Two Dragons.”
