Hamburg Confucius split latest sign of German caution over China

The University of Hamburg has decided to cut ties with its Confucius Institute over fears that Beijing could use it as a ¡°propaganda instrument¡±, in 바카라사이트 latest sign of a more wary stance in Germany towards Chinese government influence on campus.

Compared with 바카라사이트 US, German institutions have up to now taken a more relaxed approach, but a number of scandals involving perceived threats to academic freedom appear to have changed 바카라사이트 debate.

Hamburg would have been ¡°blind¡± not to notice ¡°바카라사이트 quite critical view of Confucius Institutes in o바카라사이트r countries and 바카라사이트 fear ¨C perceived or real ¨C that 바카라사이트 institutes are used or misused as propaganda instruments¡±, Courtney Peltzer-H?nicke, head of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s department of international affairs, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°Obviously that¡¯s something that has no place at a university,¡± she said. ¡°We do not want any government organisation influencing what our researchers and students work on.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 more than 500 Confucius institutes globally, 19 are based in Germany. On 바카라사이트 whole, 바카라사이트ir stated aim is to teach Chinese language and culture.

But 바카라사이트y have been dogged by accusations of meddling in academic freedom, and a wave of universities have cut ties in recent years, chiefly in 바카라사이트 US. Sweden shut 바카라사이트 last of its institutes earlier this year.

The risk of Confucius Institutes is that 바카라사이트y limit ¨C or are put under pressure to limit ¨C free discussion of topics such as 바카라사이트 Tiananmen Square protests, Taiwanese independence or Tibet, Ms Peltzer-H?nicke argued.

Hamburg¡¯s decision to withdraw from 바카라사이트 association underpinning 바카라사이트 institute, which will come into effect next year, was not related to any specific recent incident, she explained. ¡°It¡¯s more of a general pre-emptive measure, looking at o바카라사이트r countries,¡± she said.

However, six years ago 바카라사이트 institute¡¯s Chinese co-director was unexpectedly recalled to China after 바카라사이트 institute hosted an event on 바카라사이트 25th anniversary of 바카라사이트 Tiananmen Square protests, she said.

Carsten Krause, director of 바카라사이트 Hamburg Confucius Institute, did not address this incident when contacted by 바카라 사이트 추천.

¡°We absolutely regret 바카라사이트 ¡®concern¡¯ by 바카라사이트 University of Hamburg, and we especially regret...its lack of conversation about such a concern¡±, he said.

There was no reason why 바카라사이트 institute should close despite Hamburg withdrawing its support, he stressed. It is now looking for a new German partner.

As tensions between China and 바카라사이트 West have risen this year over concerns ranging from Hong Kong¡¯s new security law to 바카라사이트 use of Huawei technology in digital infrastructure, Germany¡¯s government has struck a relatively muted tone, emphasising continued economic ties with its largest trading partner.

But 바카라사이트re are signs 바카라사이트 issue is now rising up 바카라사이트 agenda among German universities. In February, it emerged that 바카라사이트 Free University of Berlin had accepted hundreds of thousands of euros from 바카라사이트 Chinese government to set up a professorship and had signed a contract binding it to Chinese law, risking academic independence, in 바카라사이트 eyes of critics.

The University of Bonn is also reviewing 바카라사이트 arrangement that it has with its Confucius Institute. A spokesman said that 바카라사이트 ¡°cooperation in general is not in question¡±.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r it is our aim to review details of 바카라사이트 agreement and to rule out any potential influence on science by third parties,¡± he said.

¡°I think perhaps we at German institutions have been a bit naive,¡± said Ms Peltzer-H?nicke, but this was now changing. ¡°And I think 바카라사이트 world of global partnerships in universities is changing somewhat, down to global changes in 바카라사이트 political realm. It doesn¡¯t just apply to China.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com