Can Chinese Cultural Diplomacy be Done Without Controversy? The Case of China Cultural Centres

China Cultural Centres (CCCs) are organisations established outside China by its Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Initiated in the late 1980s, there are now more than 40 CCCs in a number of countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The number of CCCs has accelerated since the turn of the century, when China began to implement its ‘going out’ (走出去 zou chuqu) strategy (the promotion of Chinese investments abroad) in the cultural realm. The intention to keep increasing the number of CCCs worldwide remains a priority of the Chinese government, with the goal to have established 55 CCCs by 2025.

CCCs have so far attracted little controversy, especially in comparison with Confucius Institutes (CIs)—Chinese language and culture centres set up in foreign universities. Why is this the case, and does this make CCCs a successful example of cultural diplomacy for China?