Culture helps bridge gaps

A decade ago China began opening centers abroad called Confucius Institutes to share its culture and language with the rest of the world. Today, there are more than 300 Confucius Institutes in more than 90 countries, and China aims to establish 1,000 Confucius Institutes by 2020.

The Chinese government's funding for Confucius Institutes is $100,000-200,000 a year on many campuses, and sometimes more, and the institutes are growing rapidly. In 2013 the funding totaled $278 million, more than six times that of 2006.

A chorus of concern has risen recently on whether universities have entered into arrangements with China that might compromise their academic integrity and independence. Some academics are calling for Confucius Institutes to hold lectures and forums on sensitive Chinese topics. The Confucius Institutes' response: this is not their focus or role.