Discussion of Xi Jinping’s biography in Germany canceled under Chinese pressure

A book review of an autobiography on Chinese President Xi Jinping was canceled in Germany under Chinese pressure. This has been reported German media Monday. Journalists Adrian Giggs and Stefan Ost will publish their book on Wednesday Xi Jinping, the most powerful man in the world During an online lecture organized by the Confucius Institute in Hannover. The meeting was moved to Duisburg due to “Disagreement with Chinese partnersThe Institute of Chinese Language and Culture claimed on Tuesday. According to publisher Piper Verlag, the presentation in Duisburg was canceled after Chinese intervention.

in a Permit The Leibniz Universität, of which the Confucius Institute in Hannover is affiliated, says it “in no way participates in the realization or the abolition”, but the reason for canceling the book’s presentation is a finding “unacceptable, surprising and unwise”. The Confucius Institute in Metropolis Ruhr has canceled the alternative lecture at the University of Duisburg-Essen. in a Financial Times Piper Verlag claimed on Tuesday that the Chinese consul in Dusseldorf, Feng Haiyang, insisted.

in a the scientist Author Ost said Monday that he was “extremely surprised” by the cancellation: “I could not have imagined pressure from Beijing to prevent us from discussing our book.” According to him, the book is a “very sober and realistic” treatise on the career of Xi Jinping. Niedersachsen State Science Minister Björn Thumler (CDU) informed the Confucius Institutes in NDR . announcer Corrector: “Everyone who lives and learns with us must recognize academic freedom and freedom of expression.”

Confucius Institute

Confucius Institutes are controversial around the world for their close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Officially, the organization aims to promote the Chinese language and culture, but in the wake of events in the United States and Belgium, among other things, there are reports that the institutes are pursuing a secret agenda. For example, it would undermine academic freedom and the independence of educational institutions abroad, or use them to spy on knowledge.

Read also: Confucius Institutes feel no pressure from the Chinese side

In the Netherlands, the organization has departments at the Hogeschool Zuyd in Maastricht and the University of Groningen. Leiden University stopped in 2019 cooperation, because the institute is “no longer in line with China’s university strategy.” The Groningen department came under heavy criticism in February of this year, when it turned out that a Chinese professor funded by the Confucius Institute, according to his contract, was working to improve China’s image. No damage allowed.