Latest news with #ConfuciusInstitutes
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Chinese proficiency competition held in South Africa
CAPE TOWN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The South Africa finals of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students took place on Friday in Cape Town, the country's legislative capital, where participants showcased remarkable language abilities and cultural talents. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and organized by the "Chinese Bridge" Club in Cape Town, the event was co-sponsored by Confucius Institutes across the country. This year's competition, themed "One World, One Family," consisted of three segments: a quiz on China-related knowledge, a Chinese language proficiency contest, and a showcase of Chinese cultural talents. Fifteen university students won rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. Thakane Masia, a second-year student from Rhodes University, emerged as the winner. Masia, whose Chinese name is Ma Kaini, will represent South Africa in the global finals to be held in China. Masia said the competition was intense and that all contestants performed well. She expressed her pride in winning first place and noted the value of Chinese as one of the official languages of the United Nations. Masia believed her Chinese language skills will be an asset in her future career. "With my politics degree, I also know Chinese. I can communicate with a lot of different people. It can also help if I have business or political engagement with China in the future," she said. In a video message, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng highlighted the role of language cooperation as a key part of people-to-people exchanges. "As an important component of people-to-people exchanges, language cooperation between China and South Africa empowers mutual understanding between our peoples and contributes to the enduring friendship between our two nations," he noted. Wu expressed hope for the contestants to find inspiration in the beauty of the Chinese language, form lasting friendships, and become active ambassadors for China-South Africa friendship and cooperation. Tang Chang'an, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town, attended the event, saying that language is not just about grammar or vocabulary -- it is about understanding, connection, and respect. "Through your effort and your interest in language and culture, you are helping build a stronger, more connected world," he added, encouraging the contestants to continuously bridge diverse cultures through the power of language, friendship, and shared dreams. Wu Changhong, chairperson of the "Chinese Bridge" Club in Cape Town, described the competition as a celebration of language and culture. She praised the participants for demonstrating excellent language proficiency and a deep appreciation of Chinese culture. "The event not only enhanced students' language abilities but also fostered cross-cultural understanding and built bridges between people," she said.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
How Trump Administration Targeting Chinese Students Was Years In The Making
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The U.S. plans to revoke visas for Chinese students, citing security concerns related to the Chinese Communist Party. This policy, backed by Trump allies, aims to curb China's influence in U.S. education and has worsened already strained U.S.-China relations. The United States' plans to 'aggressively' revoke visas for Chinese students did not happen in a day. US President Donald Trump and his allies had been laying the groundwork for this since years. In 2023, in a campaign trail, Trump vowed to ban 'Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists' from the country, shut down China-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. college campuses and even prosecute Chinese scientific researchers and professors working at US universities. 'The president laid it out there in the campaign… when he says he's going to do something in the campaign, he actually tries to do it,' said Ken Cuccinelli, who was Trump's deputy of Homeland Security during his first term, per a report by the Politico. 'The reason people like me raised it in the first term is the reason you're hearing from Rubio — there are very real security reasons to not help the Chinese advance their position in technical fields, and certainly not anyone more closely associated with [the Chinese Communist Party].' The administration has China hawks who have been focussed on cracking down China's influence on US institutions. About 277,000 Chinese students studied in the US last year, and Marco Rubio, Secretary of State has vowed to 'aggressively revoke' the visas and said that they will focus on people with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying sensitive subjects. 'The Secretary made this decision in the administration's ongoing effort to protect our homeland from espionage and other hostile actions,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. China has condemned the policy and termed it 'unreasonable', one that 'damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupted the normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.' The policy further complicated ties between the countries which are already battling strained ties since Trump put a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods but ultimately reduced it to 30 per cent after a temporary agreement with China. Similarly China also reduced the tariffs on the US from 125 percent to 10 per cent. This week the US curbed critical US technology sales to China, including software that is used to make semiconductors. The visa revocations for Chinese students comes as the initial step in removing Chinese influence from the United States. Trump allies hope the next target will be funding for universities working with Chinese grad students. Moreover, US immigration law bars members of the Communist Party from becoming naturalised citizens or green card holders, however, these rules do not apply to people in the United States on student or tourist visas. 'Those who come to enjoy our country must love our country,' Trump said. 'We're going to keep foreign, Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists out of America.' Legislation to limit Chinese nationals from obtaining visas for STEM-related studies had been introduced as early as 2020 by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) He applauded the administration's decision in a statement, saying 'China's use of students to spy on political dissidents and American researchers is a well-documented national security threat.' Rubio too had introduced a bill in 2021 targeting Chinese nationals in 2021. He pressured local colleges to shut down their Confucius Institutes when he represented Florida in the US Senate. He said in 2022, vocally opposing China, saying that it 'is the most formidable near-peer adversary our nation has ever faced.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Behind Trump's long campaign to target Chinese student visas
President Donald Trump's aides and allies have been laying the groundwork for his aggressive crackdown on Chinese student visas for years. Trump vowed on the campaign trail in 2023 to ban 'Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists' from the country, expanding on efforts from his first administration to shut down China-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. college campuses and prosecute Chinese scientific researchers and professors at American universities. MAGA allies on the Hill have introduced legislation to this effect in recent years. And during his first term, Trump officials even discussed the early iterations of the very policy Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled late Wednesday. The plan to revoke the student visas is another example of a White House able to build on the policy foundation laid during Trump's first term — turbocharged by planning that took place in the president's four years away from Washington. While work on student visas had been underway, the president and his aides considered that the timing of the clampdown may complicate a fragile trade truce with China. But the administration forged ahead anyway, said a White House official, granted anonymity to speak candidly about policy discussions. 'The president laid it out there in the campaign… when he says he's going to do something in the campaign, he actually tries to do it,' said Ken Cuccinelli, who served as Trump's deputy of Homeland Security during the first term. 'The reason people like me raised it in the first term is the reason you're hearing from Rubio — there are very real security reasons to not help the Chinese advance their position in technical fields, and certainly not anyone more closely associated with [the Chinese Communist Party].' The policy released this week circulated among administration officials for months after Trump signed a day one executive order directing the secretary of State to review vetting and screening for immigrants coming to the U.S., including for visa holders. The administration is stacked with aides who have long been laser focused on cracking down on China's influence in U.S. institutions, including senior policy adviser Stephen Miller and Rubio. Both played key roles in finalizing this week's policy announcement across the White House and departments of Homeland Security and State, according to the White House official. 'It was only a matter of time,' the official said. 'It's something that's been so widely discussed for so long.' Approximately 277,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. last year, and it remains unclear how many will lose their ability to remain in the country. Rubio vowed to 'aggressively revoke' the visas and said the focus would be on people with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying sensitive subjects. 'The Secretary made this decision in the administration's ongoing effort to protect our homeland from espionage and other hostile actions,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The administration's action has further fueled tensions between China and the U.S., with Beijing condemning the policy as 'unreasonable' and one that 'damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupted the normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.' Last month, Trump placed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods but those were reduced to 30 percent when U.S. and Chinese officials reached a temporary agreement. China also reduced its tariffs on American goods to 10 percent from 125 percent. The trade detente was already in jeopardy as the countries continue to engage in a growing supply chain standoff, with the U.S. this week curbing sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including software used to make semiconductors. The latest move could further threaten the strained relationship. The administration's student visa crackdown follows House passage of legislation to deny DHS funding to U.S. colleges and universities with Confucius Institutes or ties to Beijing's security apparatus. And Trump more broadly has targeted international students across the nation's higher education system, pausing interviews for new student visa applicants this week as it weighs expanding social media screening throughout the vetting process. 'They may be using a machete instead of a scalpel at this point,' said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that looks to restrict immigration. 'This is just an agenda item that's been pretty high on the list because of the security importance of it.' The president's aides and allies view the visa revocations as the initial step in clamping down on Chinese influence in the U.S., with the White House official suggesting it could lead to a wider exclusion of international students from the country. Some allies are hopeful that the administration will next target funding for universities working with Chinese grad students, similar to what the House bill did. 'We have to take things one step at a time,' the White House official said. 'When you're trying to do something big, it's best to start small.' Trump previewed this week's policy move almost two years ago at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, vowing to use Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to 'deny entry to all communists and Marxists.' U.S. immigration law already bars members of the Communist Party from becoming naturalized citizens or green card holders, but these rules don't apply to people in the U.S. on student or tourist visas. 'Those who come to enjoy our country must love our country,' Trump said. 'We're going to keep foreign, Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists out of America.' But Trump allies have been planting the seeds for much longer. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in 2020 introduced legislation that sought to limit Chinese nationals from obtaining visas for STEM-related studies. The issue has continued to circulate in GOP circles. Cotton applauded the administration's decision in a statement, saying 'China's use of students to spy on political dissidents and American researchers is a well-documented national security threat.' Rubio, who introduced another bill alongside Cotton targeting visas for Chinese nationals in 2021, has long invested in the issue. While representing Florida in the U.S. Senate, he pressured local colleges to shut down their Confucius Institutes. He was vocal in his opposition to China, contending in 2022 it 'is the most formidable near-peer adversary our nation has ever faced.' Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Behind Trump's long campaign to target Chinese student visas
President Donald Trump's aides and allies have been laying the groundwork for his aggressive crackdown on Chinese student visas for years. Trump vowed on the campaign trail in 2023 to ban 'Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists' from the country, expanding on efforts from his first administration to shut down China-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. college campuses and prosecute Chinese scientific researchers and professors at American universities. MAGA allies on the Hill have introduced legislation to this effect in recent years. And during his first term, Trump officials even discussed the early iterations of the very policy Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled late Wednesday. The plan to revoke the student visas is another example of a White House able to build on the policy foundation laid during Trump's first term — turbocharged by planning that took place in the president's four years away from Washington. While work on student visas had been underway, the president and his aides considered that the timing of the clampdown may complicate a fragile trade truce with China. But the administration forged ahead anyway, said a White House official, granted anonymity to speak candidly about policy discussions. 'The president laid it out there in the campaign… when he says he's going to do something in the campaign, he actually tries to do it,' said Ken Cuccinelli, who served as Trump's deputy of Homeland Security during the first term. 'The reason people like me raised it in the first term is the reason you're hearing from Rubio — there are very real security reasons to not help the Chinese advance their position in technical fields, and certainly not anyone more closely associated with [the Chinese Communist Party].' The policy released this week circulated among administration officials for months after Trump signed a day one executive order directing the secretary of State to review vetting and screening for immigrants coming to the U.S., including for visa holders. The administration is stacked with aides who have long been laser focused on cracking down on China's influence in U.S. institutions, including senior policy adviser Stephen Miller and Rubio. Both played key roles in finalizing this week's policy announcement across the White House and departments of Homeland Security and State, according to the White House official. 'It was only a matter of time,' the official said. 'It's something that's been so widely discussed for so long.' Approximately 277,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. last year, and it remains unclear how many will lose their ability to remain in the country. Rubio vowed to 'aggressively revoke' the visas and said the focus would be on people with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying sensitive subjects. 'The Secretary made this decision in the administration's ongoing effort to protect our homeland from espionage and other hostile actions,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The administration's action has further fueled tensions between China and the U.S., with Beijing condemning the policy as 'unreasonable' and one that 'damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupted the normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.' Last month, Trump placed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods but those were reduced to 30 percent when U.S. and Chinese officials reached a temporary agreement. China also reduced its tariffs on American goods to 10 percent from 125 percent. The trade detente was already in jeopardy as the countries continue to engage in a growing supply chain standoff, with the U.S. this week curbing sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including software used to make semiconductors. The latest move could further threaten the strained relationship. The administration's student visa crackdown follows House passage of legislation to deny DHS funding to U.S. colleges and universities with Confucius Institutes or ties to Beijing's security apparatus. And Trump more broadly has targeted international students across the nation's higher education system, pausing interviews for new student visa applicants this week as it weighs expanding social media screening throughout the vetting process. 'They may be using a machete instead of a scalpel at this point,' said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that looks to restrict immigration. 'This is just an agenda item that's been pretty high on the list because of the security importance of it.' The president's aides and allies view the visa revocations as the initial step in clamping down on Chinese influence in the U.S., with the White House official suggesting it could lead to a wider exclusion of international students from the country. Some allies are hopeful that the administration will next target funding for universities working with Chinese grad students, similar to what the House bill did. 'We have to take things one step at a time,' the White House official said. 'When you're trying to do something big, it's best to start small.' Trump previewed this week's policy move almost two years ago at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, vowing to use Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to 'deny entry to all communists and Marxists.' U.S. immigration law already bars members of the Communist Party from becoming naturalized citizens or green card holders, but these rules don't apply to people in the U.S. on student or tourist visas. 'Those who come to enjoy our country must love our country,' Trump said. 'We're going to keep foreign, Christian-hating communists, Marxists and socialists out of America.' But Trump allies have been planting the seeds for much longer. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in 2020 introduced legislation that sought to limit Chinese nationals from obtaining visas for STEM-related studies. The issue has continued to circulate in GOP circles. Cotton applauded the administration's decision in a statement, saying 'China's use of students to spy on political dissidents and American researchers is a well-documented national security threat.' Rubio, who introduced another bill alongside Cotton targeting visas for Chinese nationals in 2021, has long invested in the issue. While representing Florida in the U.S. Senate, he pressured local colleges to shut down their Confucius Institutes. He was vocal in his opposition to China, contending in 2022 it 'is the most formidable near-peer adversary our nation has ever faced.' Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In a world with Trump's isolationist America and two high-profile wars, does soft power still matter?
The recent demise of Joseph Nye, renowned for coining the term 'soft power,' has prompted me to reflect on its relevance today. He introduced the term in the late 1980s, and it gained prominence in foreign policy analysis during the 1990s. In his 2004 book, Soft Power: The Means To Success In World Politics, Nye argues that soft power is about getting others to want the outcomes you want — through persuasion, not coercion. In contrast to hard power (which takes a carrot-and-stick approach), soft power employs cultural exchanges and public diplomacy initiatives to shape behaviour and outcomes. The rise of globalisation is a testament to the efficacy of soft power. Globalisation led to porous borders not only for people but also for ideas and technologies. It has enabled states to interact with one another at multiple levels. But has the recent surge in anti-globalisation sentiment, with Donald Trump at the forefront of an isolationist America, at least judging by his rhetoric and now-revoked tariffs, diminished the appeal of soft power as a tool of persuasion? Conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, Israel's military operations in Gaza, and civil wars in Africa, among other global crises, cast doubt on the credibility of soft power. The persuasive influence of cultural factors and economic incentives is increasingly being questioned. There will always be significant debate over how to quantify soft power. Rooted in the strength of ideas, it cannot be measured in the same way as hard power. Still, some states possess more of it than others. The Soft Power 30, for example, ranked France number one in 2019, stating it is 'unrivalled in its memberships to multilateral and international organisations, and has the highest number of diplomatic cultural missions via its extensive Alliance Française network.' Nations invested in soft power to gain influence even before the term existed. Hollywood has contributed significantly to shaping the idea of the American dream and way of life, playing a pivotal role in making the United States one of the most coveted destinations for those seeking a better life. Following Trump's 2016 election victory, however, Nye argued that the US's soft power would decline, a trend that has continued in his current term. Trump's quest to 'Make America Great Again' has eroded much of the appeal the US once held for the world. His Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), cuts to USAID funding, and raids on the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) are just some examples of this administration's disregard for soft power. Beijing has long been aware of the allure of American soft power. Many Chinese students and citizens still prefer to move to the US. Despite decades of development and growth under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), China's global appeal still trails behind that of the US. In response, Beijing has invested heavily in promoting its own soft power through initiatives such as Confucius Institutes and social media platforms. Yet, despite its impressive economic growth, much of the world still struggles to understand and relate to Chinese society. In contrast, soft power is what fosters global trust in Japanese and South Korean products, rather than Chinese ones. In an increasingly fragmented and conflict-ridden world, Nye's concept of soft power remains both relevant and contested. While its intangible nature makes it difficult to quantify, its influence is visible in the enduring appeal of cultural narratives, values, and diplomacy. Despite the renewed dominance of hard power politics, soft power will continue to shape global perceptions and aspirations to some extent. The question is not whether soft power matters, but how to wield it effectively in an era where trust, credibility, and cultural resonance are in short supply. While it is hard power that safeguards state sovereignty and security, it is soft power that shapes narratives of growth, security, and international stature. The writer is Associate Professor, O P Jindal University
