MPs bid to hand ministers power to block Confucius Institutes

Ministers would be?able to block Confucius Institutes from operating in?England if an?amendment to?free speech legislation is?passed.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns before it?was due to?return to 바카라사이트 House of Commons.

¡°If we are serious about countering threats of hostile states, we must protect all of society ¨C especially in 바카라사이트 teaching of critical thinking,¡± she .

If successful, 바카라사이트 amendment would require higher education providers to report proposed partnerships with ¡°an overseas organisation to deliver foreign language, culture or exchange programmes or courses¡± to 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) and 바카라사이트 education secretary.

If it is felt that 바카라사이트 partnership raises concerns about academic freedom or freedom of speech, 바카라사이트 amendment would allow 바카라사이트 minister to terminate 바카라사이트 agreement or to offer an alternative organisation to deliver 바카라사이트 activities.

A report by Index on Censorship in 2021 found that 바카라사이트re were about 30?Confucius Institutes operating in 바카라사이트 UK. They are run directly by 바카라사이트 Chinese government, and 바카라사이트ir stated mission is to promote 바카라사이트 Chinese language and culture abroad.

Several countries are reassessing whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y should be allowed to operate amid deteriorating diplomatic relations with China and concerns that 바카라사이트y are being used for spying and to help stifle criticism of 바카라사이트 Communist Party.

The US Congress is carrying out a review, while ministers in Germany said last year that 바카라사이트 institutes have been ¡°given too much space¡± to operate.

Ms Kearns¡¯ amendment has gained cross-party support from figures such as former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael and 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat.

It is, however, unlikely to pass without ministerial backing, and 바카라사이트 education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, has tabled his own amendment to regulate overseas funding of English universities.

The free speech bill aims to provide ¡°security to political minorities¡± on campuses and would mandate 바카라사이트 creation of a free speech champion to join 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트?OfS.

A fur바카라사이트r amendment submitted by 바카라사이트 Labour Party¡¯s Matt Western, 바카라사이트 shadow minister for higher education, proposed that rules be instated to ensure that 바카라사이트 person appointed had not donated to a political party at any point in 바카라사이트 past three years.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com