Shocking graffiti has appeared across the Edinburgh University Confucius Institute dubbing it “Chinese Communism Party HQ.”
Since opening in 2007 the institute on Dalkeith Road has promoted Chinese language and culture while strengthening links with various academic institutes in China.
Similar centres have been established across the world to promote cultural and educational ties with China, the Confucius Institute is one of many in Scotland.
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Earlier this week the Edinburgh campus was targeted with vandalism on a number of signs at the institute.
Large letters that read, “CCPHQ” were scrawled in red spray paint across the sign for the building.
Another sign on the Confucius Institute Campus has the words, “Tibetan” sprayed across it.
The targeted graffiti suggests the University and Confucius Centre have some links to The Chinese Communism Party.
Back in March, a former Chinese Diplomat turned Whistleblower claimed that China tries to control its international students studying at Scottish universities through student associations.
Speaking to The Ferret, Chen Yonglin claimed that Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSA) based at universities in Scotland try to control international students on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which rules China.
All Universities contacted for comment on the allegations including the University of Edinburgh dismissed the claims.
A picture of the Graffiti was shared to a social media page where users questioned the meaning behind the vandalism.
One user said: “Confucius Institutes are claimed to be propaganda tools of the Chinese Government. Sweden has closed them.”
Another said: “I think they applied graffiti to the wrong building. surely the consulate of China would be the CCP HQ in Edinburgh and not the Confucius institute?”
While one added: “This is a pretty crass way of going after the Confucius Institute. By all means put up some stickers or something nearby, but spray painting their sign with five letters and no explanation is just a bad look.”
A spokesperson for the University of Edinburgh today said: "“Any act of vandalism is totally unacceptable. This has been reported to Police Scotland and they are now investigating the matter.”
