Rebranding China in Confucius symbols
Jan. 20 (The Economist): The Chinese Communist Party, having once vilified the ancient sage Confucius, now depends on him in its attempts at global rebranding.
An online Confucius Institute, also supported by the Chinese government, includes an article noting the “active” efforts of some unspecified Confucius Institutes in opposing independence for Tibet and Xinjiang, pro-democracy activism and the Falun Gong sect.
Party officials use Confucius as a Father-Christmas-like symbol of avuncular Chineseness rather than as the proponent of a philosophical outlook.
Full story: http://econ.st/eMENg0