Confucius Institutes at two German universities had planned online events on Oct. 27 to coordinate with the book’s launch.
But the book’s publisher, Piper Verlag of Munich, said the events were canceled at short notice “due to Chinese pressure.”.
Many Western countries have become wary of the influence the institutes exert on campuses by subsidizing classes, travel and research.
Felicitas von Lovenberg, head of Piper Verlag, called the cancellation of the events “a worrying and disturbing signal.”.
The book presented China in a very differentiated way as it also talked about China’s success in overcoming poverty, co-author Geiges said.
Stories are no longer enough — he now wants a cult around his person internationally, just as he does in China itself.”.
China supports the development of the institutes as “a platform to understand China comprehensively and objectively,” the embassy spokesperson added. »
