The number of dubious “Confucius Institutes” on American college campuses has plummeted from about 100 to just a handful since Congress threatened to pull federal funding from host universities.
But there are still 100,000 college students across the country who have ties to the Chinese Communist Party, says Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt.
“I think that’s shocking,” Schmitt says in an exclusive interview Thursday with The Heartlander.
“And you see how aggressive they’ve been. They want to have their own police stations. They want to spy on military installations. They’re now denying American couples the ability to adopt in China.
“This is a country that’s hell-bent on world domination. So, I don’t know why we would be educating Communist Party family members so they can go right back and use that information and knowledge against us.”
On Thursday Schmitt filed the “Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act,” which would deny student visas to CCP members and their relatives.
Schmitt calls his bill “part of a broader picture of confronting China as our chief adversary here in the world. And I think the 21st century is going to be defined by who wins this great-powers competition between the United States and China, between a brutal dictatorial regime and freedom here in America.
“I think we ought to take it seriously. This is just another step in that effort.”
Given that China is America’s chief foreign adversary, how can students with communist party ties be trusted by American universities?
“Well, they can’t be,” Schmitt says, “because look at what they’re doing. Any company that sets up shop in China has their IP [intellectual property]] stolen. They’ve hacked sensitive government databases – the State Department recently. This is not some benevolent regime. They have concentration camps. They have their eyes on Taiwan. They want to broaden their influence.
“In World War II, I don’t think we would be … educating the children of Nazis in this country so they can go back and use that knowledge to fight a war against us. I don’t think we would do that. And I think we have to start treating China in that way – that they’re our chief adversary. And I don’t know why we would open up our universities to the communists from China.”
Schmitt noted the international student makeup of Washington University in St. Louis alone, which is nearly 30% of total enrollment – many of them Chinese.
China planted some 100 Confucius Institutes on campuses around the country over the years – until reports of indoctrination and intimidation inspired Congress to pull funding for host colleges in 2018. Now there are just about five, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
“Confucius Institutes offer Chinese language and culture programs on U.S. college campuses,” the GAO report says. “Because the government of the People’s Republic of China partners with schools and partially funds the institutes, researchers and others have raised concerns about undue influence and more.”
“They’re nefarious,” Schmitt says of the institutes. “The CCP had their own police stations in some places. So, they don’t have the same respect for our ideals and values. And therefore, if you’re a Communist Party member of China, you don’t get to send your kid to school here. I think it’s a pretty appropriate response.
“And by the way, it would also open up 100,000 slots for American students, which I think would be great.”
