Universities Face Huge Fines If Confucius Institutes Stifle Free Speech, Watchdog Warns

Powers under the new Freedom of Speech Act allow investigations into the Chinese-run institutes if university interference is alleged.

The bust of Confucius is seen in front of the Confucius Institute building on the Troy University campus, in Troy, Ala., on March 16, 2018. Kreeder13 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Confucius Institutes (CIs) attempting to stifle debate at English universities could face investigation under new free-speech legislation, the higher education watchdog has said.

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the Office for Students (OfS), said new powers could be used to examine claims that the Chinese-run institutes are curbing free speech.