I READ with concern your report on Scottish universities being urged to sever links with Chinese language centres ("Chinese language centres 'front for Beijing'", The Herald, January 3).

I appreciate that there are issues about human rights violations and policies towards Tibet.

However, I feel that if funding is being offered by the Chinese Government to learn their language then we would be wise to accept it.

For two years I have taken part-time language classes with Glasgow University's Confucius Centre. I have received first-class help and support in my studies. There has certainly been no attempt at any time to influence me with regards to the Chinese government's ideals and politics.

As a 50-year-old male whether I personally continue to study Chinese is of little importance, but we do have to bear in mind the bigger picture.

There are 900 million Putonghua (Mandarin) speakers in China and Taiwan. It is by far the most widely spoken language in the country. China is the world's fastest growing major economy. If younger generations of Scots do not receive the encouragement to learn this language it can only harm and diminish our standing in trade and industry, therefore placing us that little bit closer to a backwater.

William Webster,

Lynn Drive, Milngavie.