University of Chicago to close the Confucius Institute

米国のシカゴ大学が「孔子学院」を閉鎖することを決定;


Statement
 on the Confucius Institute at the University of Chicago
September 25, 2014


The University of Chicago has informed Madame Xu Lin, director-general of Hanban and chief executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, of the University’s decision to suspend negotiations for the renewal of the agreement for a second term of the Confucius Institute at the University of Chicago (CIUC).

Since 2009 the University of Chicago and Hanban have worked in partnership to develop the CIUC, which has benefited research on China and collaboration between the University of Chicago and academic institutions in China. The University and Hanban have engaged in several months of good faith efforts and steady progress toward a new agreement. However, recently published comments about UChicago in an article about the director-general of Hanban are incompatible with a continued equal partnership.

The University is therefore suspending negotiations for the renewal of the agreement at this time. The University of Chicago remains committed to supporting the strong connections and longstanding collaborations between University of Chicago faculty and students and Chinese scholars, students, and institutions. As always, the University is guided by its core values and faculty leadership in all matters of academic importance.
https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/09/25/statement-confucius-institute-university-chicago

上のステイトメントの中で言及されている”recently published comments about UChicago in an article about the director-general of Hanban”は、9月19日付けの上海の『解放週末』に載った


王一「文化的困境、在於不知不覚――独家対話国家漢辦主任、孔子学院総幹事許琳」http://newspaper.jfdaily.com/jfrb/html/2014-09/19/content_17605.htm


というインタヴュー記事。問題になったのは記事の最後の「記者手記」の中の、


许琳的刚与硬,很多人都领教过。今年4月下旬,美国芝加哥大学百名退休教授联名要求停办孔子学院,许琳直接一封信写给芝加哥大学校长、一个电话打给其驻京代表,只有一句话,“只要你们学校做决定退出,我就同意”。她的态度,让对方着了急,很快答复,校方决定继续办好孔子学院。
という箇所。
この問題に関しては、Elizabeth Redden “Chicago to Close Confucius Institute”*1が詳しい。また、「孔子学院」と学術的な自由との対立を巡っては、葡萄牙で起きた検閲事件に関する Elizabeth Redden “Censorship at China Studies Meeting”*2を参照のこと。