Confucius Institutes should not be shut down

I find it hard to imagine where these 'levers of power' might be that Confucius Institutes are supposed to use to constrain academic endeavour. CIs control no budget within the host institution, vet no syllabuses, approve no appointments and organise no boycotts of contentious classes. Where, exactly, are they supposed to interfere in the academic life of their partner? So they don't actively promote certain issues that are headline in western minds whenever the word 'China' appears? It's not what they're there for. I can't remember seeing the Highland Clearances or Bengal Famine being part of the British Council's language and culture classes; and I very much doubt the Goethe Institute goes out of its way to explain what 'Endlosung' meant in recent German history. Not because there's any deep conspiracy, just because they have a particular remit which that isn't part of. Take them for what they are - adverts for Chinese ideals and aspirations. If you want deep debates on the whys, wherefores and dyamindifidonts of the late 20th century global rebalancing of power and wealth, take an IR/IP class. I bet you'll find one in any university with an attached CI>