World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Former Confucius Institute director to lead new UNLV language centre
Huajing Maske, former executive director of the University of Kentucky’s Confucius Institute, has been appointed to lead a new Chinese language and culture institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The appointment has drawn scrutiny because it comes as US officials renew concerns about alleged Chinese influence on university campuses.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said 80 alleged propaganda cells had emerged at 30 universities under different names. UNLV said its Sands Institute was established with a $15 million gift from Las Vegas Sands Corporation and has received no funding from China; it also said the US Department of War had not contacted the institute. Confucius Institutes offered language and cultural programmes, but critics and US officials argued that their Chinese government funding could enable political influence and constrain academic freedom.
In short
- Former Confucius Institute director Huajing Maske now leads a UNLV cultural institute.
- Hegseth alleges 80 propaganda cells have appeared at 30 universities.
- UNLV says its institute is funded by a $15 million corporate gift.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A university could reasonably appoint an experienced language and culture programme leader to meet student interest and broaden access to Chinese studies. UNLV says the new institute is funded by a US company, receives no Chinese funding and has not been contacted by the Department of War, which supports treating it as a distinct programme unless evidence shows otherwise.
The case against
Critics can reasonably argue that appointing a former Confucius Institute director warrants scrutiny because such institutes were backed by the Chinese government, and that funding or institutional ties can create risks of political influence or limits on academic freedom. Given renewed US officials’ concerns about alleged campus influence operations, they may call for transparency and safeguards even without evidence that this UNLV institute has received Chinese support.
Explained simply
Confucius Institutes were Chinese language and cultural programmes hosted by universities, often with support from the Chinese government. They offered classes and events, while critics in the United States raised concerns that their funding could bring political influence or limit academic freedom.
Huajing Maske previously led the Confucius Institute at the University of Kentucky. The new Sands Institute is based at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the university says it was established with a $15 million gift from Las Vegas Sands Corporation and has received no funding from China.
The appointment comes amid renewed US scrutiny of alleged Chinese influence at universities. That wider debate makes the institute’s funding, governance and academic independence relevant to how its work is understood.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Former director of controversial Chinese institute with links to CCP lands top job at major US university…as Defense Secretary Hegseth warns of new ‘propaganda cells’ to ‘infiltrate minds of American students’”.