in which they declare their support for Beijing's "One China" policy. As a result, both Taiwan and Tibet become taboos at the institutes. The CI's soft power goals are seen as an attempt by the PRC to modernize away from Soviet-influenced propaganda of the Maoist era. Other initiatives include Chinese contemporary art exhibitions, television programs, concerts by popular singers, translations of Chinese literature, and the expansion of state-run news channels such as Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. Hiring policy The Hanban website stated that Chinese language instructors should be "aged between 22 to 60, physical and mental healthy, no record of participation in Falun Gong and other illegal organizations, and no criminal record." Human rights lawyer Clive Ansley has argued that the part of the hiring policy that discriminates against Falun Gong believers is in contravention of anti-discrimination laws and human rights codes. Marci Hamilton, Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Yeshiva University, called this policy "unethical and illegal in the free world." In 2013, McMaster University in Canada closed its Confucius Institute due to hiring issues over Falun Gong. See also Chinese Bridge Istituto Italiano di Cultura Dante Alighieri Society Goethe-Institut Hillel International Instituto Camões Instituto Cervantes Institut Français Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning China's "soft power initiative" Propaganda in the People's Republic of China Panda diplomacy References Further reading External links Chinese-language education Cultural promotion organizations Foreign relations of China Language advocacy organizations Organizations established in 2004 Research institutes of Sinology 2004 establishments in China Organizations associated with the Chinese Communist Party Overseas censorship of Chinese issues United front (China)