China on Monday voiced opposition to the smearing and stigmatization of Confucius Institutes after the United States designated the cultural centers as a national security threat.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked about the designation, announced on Friday by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The move targets Confucius Institutes on American university campuses, according to media reports.

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"We oppose attempts to smear and stigmatize Confucius Institutes," Guo said.

Educational exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States help deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples, he said.

Such exchanges benefit both sides and should not be disrupted or undermined, Guo added.