What is Konnech's ChineseBrief.com and Its Relationship to Confucius Institutes
A brief summary of the connections between Konnech's ChineseBrief and Michigan State University.
Confucius Institutes allow foreign Students to attend Universities here in America, and students are often funded to study abroad. These Institutes teach the Chinese language and culture.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department had designated the Confucius Institute U.S. Center as a “foreign mission” on August 13th, 2020.
Senator Ben Sasse states, “Behind the student activities and language programs, the institutes have two more nefarious core objectives: spreading communist propaganda and spying on Chinese students studying in the free world.”
Republicans and Democrats jointly called for the closure of all Confucius Institutes in March 2020. They demanded “full and public disclosure of all ties, both financial and academic, between centers of higher learning and all Chinese state agencies and proxies.”
In December 2006, Konnech reached an agreement with The Confucius Institute at Michigan State University to build ChineseBrief.com - a unique interactive communication platform and Chinese language learning tool.
Chinese Brief would be a way for Chinese students under CSSA (Chinese Student and Scholar Association) to interact with their Language Instructor to receive instructions, assignments, and media files. Each session would be 3-5 minutes in duration. Konnech’s Chinese brief can be used on a college level for adults and children K-12.
The Confucius Institute at Michigan State University (CI-MSU) was established in collaboration with the China Central Radio and TV University under the authorization and sponsorship of China's National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.
An archive of Confucius.msu.edu shows below that the agreement was signed between Michigan State University and Konnech to include CIMSU Phonecasting to offer 3-5 minute Mandarin lessons delivered to phones. Additionally, CIMSU would offer a Second Life Island meeting place for 1.7 million students, “Zon,” a massive online multiplayer learning tool for students, and Online Teacher Training.
In April 2006, Yong Zhao became the Executive Director of the Confucius Institute at Michigan State University. Yong has had quite a distinguished career, rather than typing out his accomplishments. I will post two images from Yong Zhao’s website detailing his career and the awards he has received.
In his biography, it is important to note three connections; Michigan State University, China, and Australia.
The United States, China, and Australia are all connected to Konnech.
As you can see, Yong Zhao is one of the most influential people in educational technology who has close ties to China, Australia, and different Universities around the United States.
Yong Zhao has been a long-time advocate between the United States and China to help further the relationships using technology and online gaming tools, furthering language education to students in Schools across America.
Yong Zhao has received over $26.4 Million in grants/contracts from just 1996-2011 alone.
Funds have come from both China and the United States.
Yong Zhao is listed as the Head Professor for Konnech’s Chinesebrief project, according to ChineseBrief.com.
I have established that Konnech created ChineseBrief, which is connected to The Confucius Institute of Michigan State University and was run by Yong Zhao.
On September 10th, 2022, Konnech issued a Press Release addressing “allegations” in response to election integrity organization True the Vote. In this press release, Konnech states, “In 2006, a professor at Michigan State University asked Konnech to develop a Chinese language learning website as part of his work with the Confucius Institute at the University. The project was never funded, and Konnech had no relationship with either the Institute or the University in connection with it.”
According to Konnech’s website, they reached an agreement with CIMSU to develop Phonecasting (ChineseBrief), and according to CIMSU’s website, that agreement has been signed.
Not to mention Konnech lists Yong Zhao directly on Chinesebrief.com as the only Professor under the Teacher’s Directory section.
Both parties publicly announced their relationship.
Yong Zhao has written extensively about furthering the Education Goals between the People’s Republic of China and America throughout his career. You can read his body of work here.
Why is Konnech trying to distance themselves from Yong Zhao?
118 Confucius Institutes that once existed in the United States, 104 have closed or are in the process of doing so according to the National Association of Scholars.
Based on the body of his work, Yong Zhao seems to have been instrumental in pushing China’s agenda in Universities here in America and has a heavy influence on the Michigan State Education System. Yong Zhao has received International funding to further the goals of the People's Republic of China here in the United States and he was also the Executive Director for the Confucius Institute of Michigan State University.
There is much left to be discussed about Yong Zhao.
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Tremendous research unveiling that curtain that we all should look behind.
Sorry for the 2nd message but I just read through Yong Zhao’s body of work. Yes we have plenty to talk about here.