Interest in learning Mandarin, once seen as a language of great relevance, is waning worldwide. According to the US-based Modern Language Association, which is the premier body for scholars of language and literature, in the US, UK and New Zealand, enrollments in Chinese language programmes have dropped significantly, as the language is caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical tensions and growing skepticism towards China.
In U.S. universities, enrollment in Mandarin language course were down 25% in 2021 compared to their 2013 peak. In the UK 35% fewer students were studying Chinese in 2023 than in 2016. New Zealand has also seen a steady decline in high school students learning Mandarin since 2020.
Experts say the decline is partly due to China’s economic slowdown and a less welcoming environment for foreigners. The country’s strict pandemic lockdowns drove many international students and workers to leave.
The turning away from Mandarin is also driven by tensions between China and Western governments, especially around national security. The Confucius Institutes, once seen as the flag bearers of Chinese culture and language, are now shut following accusations of promoting Chinese Communist Party ideology.
There were also allegations of political interference and security concerns with these institutes seen as tools of Chinese soft power, raising concerns about propaganda and foreign influence.
Mainland China has also become less accessible to foreign academics, journalists, and researchers and extended stays now carry risks for foreign experts, including potential impacts on careers or security clearances.
This is not the case in the Global South, where from Southeast Asia to the Arab region, Mandarin continues to grow driven by economic ties with China. Meanwhile, Taiwan has become an alternative for Chinese language learning, the island offers scholarships and growing opportunities for international students.
As China turns inward, the rest of the world is adjusting its relationship with the language that once symbolized boundless opportunity.
