Confucius institutes: Multiple reactions and interactions

Abstract

The rapid establishment of Confucius Institutes all over the world has raised a question of doubt about the motivation of China. From the perspective of China, the institutes can help to promote Chinese language and culture, and project a positive image of China as a benign country. However, other countries may wonder how far China would like to exert its soft power and cultural influence on the rest of the world. This article aims to examine multiple reactions and interactions related to this issue. To understand views from different perspectives, a survey of academics, researchers and Confucius Institute administrators was conducted and diverse views were found. Accordingly, the development of mutual trust associated with the phenomenon appears to be at an early stage, and the impact of Confucius Institutes on their host countries is not yet fully apparent.