Six Australian Universities Shut Down Confucius Institutes, Replace with Self-Designed Chinese Studies Programs

Six universities in Australia have gradually closed their Confucius Institutes, which have been alleged to have ties to the Chinese government. Several universities did not publicly disclose the reasons for the closures; some cited the COVID-19 pandemic, while others stated they were developing their own China-related curricula. (Lu Ming / Dajiyuan)

[People News] Six universities in Australia have successively closed their Confucius Institutes, which have been criticized for having ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), representing nearly half of such institutes in the country. These Confucius Institutes, established in cooperation with Chinese partners, are intended to teach the Chinese language and promote Chinese culture. While many universities have not publicly stated reasons for the closures, some have cited the COVID-19 pandemic, and others have shifted to developing their own Chinese studies programs. Australia’s Foreign Minister has said that no new Confucius Institutes should be established.

According to multiple media reports, the University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, University of Western Australia, and RMIT University have confirmed the closure of their Confucius Institutes. Although the University of Adelaide has not formally confirmed the closure, the auto-reply of the institute’s email has not been updated since January last year, suggesting it may have ceased operations.

The University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland stated that they did not renew contracts with their Chinese partners after agreements expired. The University of New South Wales, the University of Western Australia, and RMIT attributed closures to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne and UNSW further stated that they are offering a variety of Chinese and Asian studies courses or are developing their own Chinese language and cultural programs.

Seven Australian Universities Still Retain Confucius Institutes

As of now, seven Australian universities continue to host Confucius Institutes. These include the University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Griffith University, La Trobe University, Victoria University, and Charles Darwin University. QUT has stated that its agreement will expire next year and that it will evaluate whether to renew it based on policy and resource considerations. The University of Sydney has clarified that its Confucius Institute does not receive funding from China and currently offers Chinese language programs as part of its continuing education initiatives.

Australian Foreign Minister: No New Confucius Institutes Should Be Established

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that the Foreign Minister has made it clear to academic institutions that no new Confucius Institutes should be set up. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) cited government officials as saying that while universities have not been directly ordered to shut the institutes, it has been "clearly communicated" that Confucius Institutes are a "matter requiring careful handling." The report also cited scholars who suggested that universities may be concerned that ties with Confucius Institutes could impact research funding from the United States.

Confucius Institutes have long been a source of controversy. In 2019, the ABC reported that applicants for volunteer teaching positions at Confucius Institutes were required to demonstrate political loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Human Rights Watch has also pointed out that Confucius Institutes have repeatedly censored sensitive topics related to Beijing.

(Adapted from Radio Free Asia)