Beijing opposes US plan to revoke Chinese student visas

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The foreign ministry also said China “firmly opposes” the US policy and urged Washington to adopt a more constructive approach towards building stable bilateral ties.

The move comes amid longstanding tensions over academic exchanges between the two nations. During Donald Trump’s first term in 2019, China had already warned students about potential visa issues due to rising rejection rates and shorter visa durations. In more recent years, Chinese students have reported facing interrogations and deportations upon arrival at US airports.

Uncertainty among Chinese students

The latest visa decision has created a wave of uncertainty among the more than 270,000 Chinese students studying in the US during the 2023–2024 academic year, who represent nearly a quarter of all international students in the country.

Linqin, a student at Johns Hopkins University, quoted by AP, said the decision reminded him of historic exclusionary policies: “This is a ‘new version of the Chinese Exclusion Act’.” Referring to the 19th-century law that barred Chinese immigration, he added, “Wednesday was the first time I thought about leaving the US after spending one-third of my life here.”

Zou Renge, a 27-year-old student at the University of Chicago, said she had initially planned to work in humanitarian aid abroad after graduation. Now, she’s reconsidering. “In a very uncertain environment, I’ll try my best to find myself a solution,” she said, explaining she would avoid leaving the country for now.

Hong Kong sees an opportunity

The impact is not just being felt in the US. In Hong Kong, officials and universities are seeing this as an opportunity to attract affected students. AP quoted Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee as saying, “The students who face unfair treatment can come from different countries beyond the US. I think this is an opportunity for Hong Kong. We will work with our universities to provide the best support and assistance.”

This follows a trend among Chinese students increasingly opting to study in the UK, Australia, or Hong Kong, instead of the US, citing safety and policy uncertainty. Kitty Wu, director of education consultancy Litz USA Student Service, noted a shift in interest: students who had previously focused only on US institutions are now considering the University of Hong Kong as a serious alternative.

Will Kwong, managing director at Hong Kong’s AAS Education Consultancy, said his team is already helping students with American university offers apply to institutions in other countries.

Zhang Qi, a postdoctoral fellow in Beijing, said the US policy could backfire. “Having fewer international exchanges is definitely not good for America’s development,” he noted. “This could be a positive change for China’s development. More talented individuals may choose to stay… which would benefit the development of domestic science and technology.”

Meanwhile, incoming Chinese students waiting for visa approvals remain in limbo. Chen, who is set to attend Purdue University and only shared his last name, expressed his disillusionment: “I was expecting freedom and tolerance. The US was known for its diversity, which allows international students to fit in, but it is a pity to see such kind of change.”

(With agency inputs)

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