The new Chinese export – Confucius Institute

In an earlier post, I wrote about the expansion of Chinese language programs in the US and around the world. It’s actually growing faster than I thought. A special project called Confucius Institute, administered by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOTCFL) has already spread to 49 countries with over 120 institutes. The exponential economic growth of China in recent years initiated huge interest in the Chinese language. While many people think learning Chinese as a bridge to career and business opportunities, some are worried about the motives behind the Confucius Institute and others branded it the export of “soft power.” The NOTCFL predicts there will be 500 Confucius Institutes by the end of 2010. Such ambition is hard to justify.

When the US finalized the approval of China’s permanent Normal Trade Relations status (also known as Most Favored Nation) in late 2001, it gave up its habit of raising concerns for China’s human rights conditions during the annual renewal of NTR status (those were key moments that kept the Chinese government on alert). Since then, many US companies entered the Chinese market and some agreed to follow certain rules that clearly violate human rights. As of now, those companies have to defend themselves in front of the American public with many lame excuses. But when the Confucius Institute successfully captures the hearts and minds of people around the world, will we take a blind eye on whatever China does to their own citizens?

Related news and links:

• Wikipedia: Confucius Institute
• China Daily, May 2006: ‘China threat’ fear countered by culture
• China Daily, July 2006: Confucius Institutes expanding worldwide
• Xinhua News Agency: Language, culture popularized worldwide with more Confucius institutes founded
• The Christian Science Monitor: Why China wants you to learn Chinese

Update (2-28-2007):

• Financial Times: The hard evidence that China’s soft power policy is working

Caution: Chinese language program with alternate motive

For years, Americans have been going overseas to teach English. China has caught on the same idea sending volunteers around the world to teach Chinese. It’s kind of a way to send love to get love back. Most likely a smarter way towards world domination than starting fights everywhere. There is an article in Wired magazine about it.

And in the US, the Department of Defense awarded a grant to support the expansion of Chinese language program in Oregon. Kids can learn Chinese all the way from kindergarten through college. It’s not a bad thing overall but why is the money coming from the Defense department? Shouldn’t it be more appropriate to have the Education department involved? But we all know where our tax dollars went these days so we have to take what we can get.

Related news:

• Washington Post, January 2006: Mandarin Makes Inroads in U.S. Schools
• US Department of Defense, January 2006: Media Roundtable with Dr. David Chu, Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness)