The US State Department on Friday said it was abolishing five Chinese-funded exchange programs naming them as propaganda tools for Beijing. Mike Pompeo in a statement said these programs under MECEA law allowed government employees to travel using foreign exchange government funds disguised as “cultural exchanges”. He said other programs funded in this law were helpful, while these five served as soft propaganda tools for Chinese Government. Pompeo clarified that these travels provide access to CCP officials and not Chinese people who are devoid of freedom of speech in assembly.
