Pentagon Labels Confucius Institutes a National Security Threat; China Protests

The U.S. Defense Department has designated Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes on American university campuses as a national security threat, alleging they function as "propaganda cells" for intellectual property theft and influence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the move, which China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, strongly opposed, calling it a "smear" against educational exchanges. This escalates tensions over academic influence.