Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that&nbsp;the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears.

Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports. 
 
A notice on&nbsp;Peking University's&nbsp;website stated ''to protect the health of the majority of candidates during the coronavirus pandemic ... the University has taken the decision to cancel the written examinations for international students applying [for undergraduate programs in 2020].

The school will instead conduct remote interviews for students who meet their qualifications, according to Chinese news agencies.

However, experts claim that the change will make it easier for overseas students to gain admission into these institutions and could be linked to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) continued propaganda efforts abroad.

The decision is likely in response to recent closures of Confucius Institutes over growing concerns that China's influence is negatively affecting freedom of speech on campuses around the world. 
 
According to Chinese education specialist Shi Dajun, a Peking University graduate, ''now that the Confucius Institutes are running into obstacles, we are seeing them take a new direction.''

''The goal is to have foreign students studying in China take the CCP’s message back to their own countries to help spread Beijing’s narrative,'' Shi said. 
 
A retired professor from Lanzhou University surnamed Cai said&nbsp;that attracting overseas students to China is part of a long-running strategy for the CCP, which uses education as a form of soft power.

Students who study in China under its Belt and Road Initiative enjoy generous stipends for living expenses and no tuition fees in addition to free accommodations. The idea is to train the next generation of pro-China people and to develop friendly ties with their countries.

Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears. Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports.

Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears. Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports. A notice on Peking University's website stated ''to protect the health of the majority of candidates during the coronavirus pandemic ... the University has taken the decision to cancel the written examinations for international students applying [for undergraduate programs in 2020]. The school will instead conduct remote interviews for students who meet their qualifications, according to Chinese news agencies. However, experts claim that the change will make it easier for overseas students to gain admission into these institutions and could be linked to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) continued propaganda efforts abroad. The decision is likely in response to recent closures of Confucius Institutes over growing concerns that China's influence is negatively affecting freedom of speech on campuses around the world. According to Chinese education specialist Shi Dajun, a Peking University graduate, ''now that the Confucius Institutes are running into obstacles, we are seeing them take a new direction.'' ''The goal is to have foreign students studying in China take the CCP’s message back to their own countries to help spread Beijing’s narrative,'' Shi said. A retired professor from Lanzhou University surnamed Cai said that attracting overseas students to China is part of a long-running strategy for the CCP, which uses education as a form of soft power. Students who study in China under its Belt and Road Initiative enjoy generous stipends for living expenses and no tuition fees in addition to free accommodations. The idea is to train the next generation of pro-China people and to develop friendly ties with their countries.

Chinese universities cancelling entrance exams for foreign students

As the pandemic takes a toll on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-mike-pompeo-hits-out-at-china-over-not-allowing-lab-inspections-294320">China's</a> ties with the world, in the midst of it, Sweden has shutdown Chinese schools in the country. The Beijing-backed schools were meant to promote the Chinese language and culture.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-to-conduct-clinical-trials-on-pakistani-patients-for-covid-19-vaccine-294172">Also Read:&nbsp;China to conduct clinical trials on Pakistani patients for COVID-19 vaccine</a>

However, now due to security concerns, questions are being raised about the Confucius institutes, one of which was closed in Maryland in the US earlier this year.

Sweden's relationship with China has been souring since 2015 but now it seems to have taken a definitive turn for the worse.

The Nordic nation has shutdown the last remaining school for Chinese language and culture. The Chinese state-sponsored teaching programme has been brought to a halt. The Confucius institutes are funded by Beijing. The textbooks used in them are also scripted by Beijing.

Sweden has clamped down on them citing security concerns. It isn't the first to do it. In January, the University of Maryland in the US too cancelled the Confucius institute affiliated with it due to allegations of Beijing trying to politically influence academics.

China controls what is taught in Confucius classrooms and censorship is strong. Topics like Taiwan's independence and persecution of Tibetans are completely left out. 
The Confucius institutes are also accused of biased hiring practices as they allegedly favour only those loyal to the Chinese regime.

Now the Swedish government has chosen to do away with these schools altogether. It makes Sweden the first European country to carry out the closure. Experts say it's a clear sign that Sweden's attitude towards China has turned negative. China and Sweden have been at loggerheads over the arrest of a Swedish bookseller. Hong Kong-based Gu Minhai was detained by China in 2018 for selling books critical of President Xi Jinping.

Two months ago he was sentenced to ten years in prison. This, along with China's role in the coronavirus outbreak, is set to have damaged ties. It doesn't help that China is facing a global trust deficit due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the pandemic takes a toll on China's ties with the world, in the midst of it, Sweden has shutdown Chinese schools in the country. The Beijing-backed schools were meant to promote the Chinese language and culture.

As the pandemic takes a toll on China's ties with the world, in the midst of it, Sweden has shutdown Chinese schools in the country. The Beijing-backed schools were meant to promote the Chinese language and culture. Also Read: China to conduct clinical trials on Pakistani patients for COVID-19 vaccine However, now due to security concerns, questions are being raised about the Confucius institutes, one of which was closed in Maryland in the US earlier this year. Sweden's relationship with China has been souring since 2015 but now it seems to have taken a definitive turn for the worse. The Nordic nation has shutdown the last remaining school for Chinese language and culture. The Chinese state-sponsored teaching programme has been brought to a halt. The Confucius institutes are funded by Beijing. The textbooks used in them are also scripted by Beijing. Sweden has clamped down on them citing security concerns. It isn't the first to do it. In January, the University of Maryland in the US too cancelled the Confucius institute affiliated with it due to allegations of Beijing trying to politically influence academics. China controls what is taught in Confucius classrooms and censorship is strong. Topics like Taiwan's independence and persecution of Tibetans are completely left out. The Confucius institutes are also accused of biased hiring practices as they allegedly favour only those loyal to the Chinese regime. Now the Swedish government has chosen to do away with these schools altogether. It makes Sweden the first European country to carry out the closure. Experts say it's a clear sign that Sweden's attitude towards China has turned negative. China and Sweden have been at loggerheads over the arrest of a Swedish bookseller. Hong Kong-based Gu Minhai was detained by China in 2018 for selling books critical of President Xi Jinping. Two months ago he was sentenced to ten years in prison. This, along with China's role in the coronavirus outbreak, is set to have damaged ties. It doesn't help that China is facing a global trust deficit due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Now, Sweden shuts China's Confucius institutes

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Chinese universities cancelling entrance exams for foreign students

Now, Sweden shuts China's Confucius institutes