Pentagon designates Confucius Institutes as national security threat, Hegseth says

Defence secretary alleges 80 'propaganda cells' operating at US universities under disguise

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Updated24 October 2026

Read Time1 min

Sources2 outlets

The US Defense Department has officially designated Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes on American university campuses as a threat to national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday, alleging the centres were operating under disguise to steal intellectual property and influence students.

In a video posted to social media, Hegseth accused the cultural institutes of being propaganda tools disguised as academic programmes. He claimed that "80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds of American students."

The Pentagon has added the Confucius Institutes to its list of institutions that threaten US national security. Hegseth said the defence department had spent the past two months "systematically dismantling every single one of these organizations."

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Confucius Institutes, which are funded by China's education ministry, have long faced accusations from US officials of serving as vehicles for propaganda and espionage. Previous administrations have taken steps to restrict their operations on American campuses, but Friday's designation marks the most direct national security classification by the Pentagon.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Pentagon's designation could lead to the forced closure of remaining Confucius Institutes at US universities, affecting cultural and language exchange programmes.
It intensifies an already strained US-China relationship, reinforcing accusations of intellectual property theft and influence operations.
The move may prompt other Western countries to review their own Confucius Institutes.

Background

Confucius Institutes were established by China's Hanban (now the Chinese International Education Foundation) to promote Chinese language and culture abroad. They have been present at dozens of US universities. Critics have long argued that they operate under the influence of the Chinese government and serve propaganda purposes, while supporters maintain they are legitimate educational partnerships. The Trump administration previously labelled them as foreign missions, and legislation has been introduced to restrict their funding.

What to Watch

Any official response from China, which may retaliate against US cultural institutions in China.
Whether US universities that host Confucius Institutes will face pressure to sever ties immediately.
Possible new restrictions or visa issues for Chinese scholars and students in the US.

Sources

Pentagon designates Confucius Institutes a national security threat · Al Jazeera
Pentagon designates China-backed campus cultural centers a threat to US national security · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 5 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Pentagon designated Confucius Institutes a national security threat, as Hegseth said on Friday.World news | The Guardian: “The ⁠US defense department has designated Chinese-funded cultural centers on university campuses ⁠known as Confucius ⁠Institutes as a threat to US national security, defense secretary Pete ⁠Hegseth said on Friday.”
Partly supportedHegseth alleged that 80 propaganda cells were operating at 30 universities under disguise.World news | The Guardian: “Hegseth, ‌in a ‌video posted on social media, alleged that Confucius ‌Institutes were operating under disguise at US universities ... “It turns ‌out that 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters””
Partly supportedHegseth alleged that the centres were operating under disguise to steal intellectual property and influence students.World news | The Guardian: “Hegseth, ‌in a ‌video posted on social media, alleged that Confucius ‌Institutes were operating under disguise at US universities ... “with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds ⁠of American students,” Hegseth said.”
SupportedHegseth said: “80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds of American students.”World news | The Guardian: ““It turns ‌out that 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds ⁠of American students,” Hegseth said.”
Partly supportedHegseth accused the institutes of being propaganda tools disguised as academic programmes.World news | The Guardian: “Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda ⁠tools”
SupportedThe Pentagon added Confucius Institutes to its list of institutions that threaten US national security.World news | The Guardian: “Hegseth ... alleged that Confucius ‌Institutes were operating under disguise at US universities and that the Pentagon had added them to its list of institutions that threaten US national security.”
SupportedHegseth said the defence department had spent the past two months “systematically dismantling every single one of these organizations.”World news | The Guardian: “The defense department over the past two months has “systematically dismantled every single one of these organizations”, he ‌said.”
SupportedThe Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.World news | The Guardian: “The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
Not in the sourcesConfucius Institutes are funded by China’s education ministry.
Partly supportedConfucius Institutes have long faced accusations from US officials of serving as vehicles for propaganda and espionage.World news | The Guardian: “Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda ⁠tools”
Partly supportedPrevious administrations took steps to restrict Confucius Institutes’ operations on American campuses.World news | The Guardian: “Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda ⁠tools and has taken steps to crack down on them.”
Not in the sourcesFriday’s designation is the Pentagon’s most direct national security classification of the institutes.