The US State Department said on Friday it has ended five cultural exchange programs with China, calling them "soft power propaganda tools."
The Department said on its website it had "terminated" the Policymakers Educational China Trip Program, the US-China Friendship Program, the U.S.-China Leadership Exchange Program, the U.S.-China Transpacific Exchange Program and the Hong Kong Educational and Cultural Program.
It said that the programs had been set up under the auspices of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act - a 1961 law signed by President John F Kennedy and aimed at boosting academic and cultural exchanges with foreign countries.
"While other programs funded under the auspices of the MECEA are mutually beneficial, the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the (Chinese) government as soft power propaganda tools," the statement said.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the move.
Attempts to reach representatives for the programs singled out by the State Department were not immediately successful.
China's Megaport In South America Could Spark Resource War With US: Report 4 US Citizens "Brutally Stabbed" In Park In China Ties With China Can Veer Into "Conflict" If Not Well Managed: US Official 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel IndiGo Flight Tailstrike Leaves Huge Dent During Take-Off From Delhi Airport 'Pager Bombs' Target Hezbollah In Lebanon. What We Know So Far - 5 Points World's Oldest Sunday Newspaper, 'The Observer', Up For Sale PM Modi To Visit US For Quad Summit, Attend UN Assembly From Sept 21-24 Ground Report: Central Forces' Canteens Open To Public In Violence-Hit Manipur Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.