China to ‘optimise’ spread of controversial Confucius Institutes

China said it plans to “optimise” the spread of its Confucius Institutes, the controversial institutions designed to promote Chinese language and culture but which have been criticised for spreading Communist Party influence.

In 2004, China began setting up the government-run bodies, whose stated mission is to satisfy soaring global demand to learn Chinese.

But they have faced opposition, especially in the United States, for being little more than a propaganda arm of the ruling party, assertions denied by both the institutes and Beijing.

The institutes will remain a key government policy, according to a document on modernising China’s education system by the party’s Central Committee and State Council, and released by Xinhua late on Saturday.

“Optimise the regional distribution of the Confucius Institute, strengthen its abilities and building, and fully raise its educational standards,” it said.

The organisations will also “strengthen work on the teaching of Chinese internationally” the statement said, without elaborating.

Such broad statements are typically followed weeks or even months later by more detailed policy documents that focus on implementation.