The rationale behind Confucius Institutes -- an international chain of academic centers run by an arm of the Chinese government -- is understandable . With extraordinary economic growth in the past three decades , China is again center stage in the international community . In the early years of reform , it was imperative to bring the outside world -- particularly its technology and capital -- into China . Today , it 's imperative to introduce a born-again China to the outside world , especially in light of the myriad stereotypes , misperceptions , and distortions about China that are still prevalent among many foreigners . While introducing Chinese language and culture to foreigners is a good idea , the aggressive attempt to do so via Confucius Institutes has proved problematic . The Hanban -- the Chinese government body that operates the Confucius Institutes -- often gives one the impression that it is carrying out a worldwide ideological campaign . Several U.S. educational institutions -- most recently the University of Chicago and Penn State University -- reportedly have decided to cut ties with the Confucius Institute program over concerns about academic freedom . In another widely reported incident that adds to suspicions about their ideological agenda , the Hanban ordered pages from a Taiwan scholarly foundation to be removed from a program handed out at the 20th conference of the European Association of Chinese Studies in Portugal in July of this year . Soft power push . By the end of 2013 there were already 440 Confucius Institutes and 646 smaller Confucius Classrooms across 120 countries . Given that the first Confucius Institute was founded in 2004 in South Korea , this is nothing short of a cultural `` Great Leap Forward '' targeted at foreigners . China 's leaders appear to have subscribed to the view that though China already possesses formidable hard power -- in economic and military terms -- it wo n't be viewed as a truly global power like the United States until it also possesses equally formidable soft power . The elements of Chinese soft power frequently cited by foreigners when asked about their views of China include the Great Wall , the Forbidden City , pandas , Kung Fu , and the Peking Opera . With the exception of pandas , however , they are all cultural products of ancient China . What China really lacks is not culture per se , but modern culture that can easily resonate with people around the world . Instead of promoting the controversial Confucius Institutes that are interpreted by some as a sign of cultural colonialism by a rising China , the Chinese government would be better off attracting foreigners to China through scholarships , research grants , and cultural products . What would Confucius say ? Confucianism was the ruling ideology of China for the better part of Chinese history until 1911 . It comprises a set of values , norms , and practices that derive primarily from the teachings of Confucius , a philosopher-teacher who lived from 551 to 470 BC . While Confucianism has much to say about nearly every aspect of Chinese society , it does not advocate aggressively spreading Chinese culture outside the Middle Kingdom . Instead , at least from my perspective , it exhorts Chinese emperors to make China a `` city on the hill '' -- a shining example of advanced culture for other people to admire and emulate . Besides , there is hardly anything in Confucianism that is both uniquely Chinese and universally appealing . In fact , some of the core elements of Confucianism -- such as the priority of the state over the individual , hierarchical society , and deference to authority -- are obviously at odds with the dominant trends of the contemporary world . Those who are familiar with China 's post-1949 history also wo n't miss the irony that the Communist government is marketing Confucius as the icon of Chinese culture . Confucius and his thoughts were attacked as backward and as an obstacle to China 's modernization during the Cultural Revolution ( 1966-76 ) . As a result , Confucianism was marginalized in Chinese discourse , only to be revived and promoted by Chinese leaders in the past decade . In the end , the key to China 's soft power hinges on modernizing Chinese culture instead of marketing its ancient heritage . Such cultural modernization includes not only more appealing cultural products and business innovations , but also fundamental reforms in the Chinese body politic . To paraphrase the wise words of Confucius , perhaps Chinese leaders should worry less about having little soft power abroad and more about building up a prosperous , free , and just society at home .
China is keen to project its culture as well as its economic and military power . Chinese government accused of worldwide ideological campaign through Confucius Institutes . Several U.S. educational institutions cut ties over concerns about academic freedom . Comment: