‘Hurt its own global image’: China says Trump’s ban on Harvard’s international students will reduce its international appeal

The US decision, announced Thursday, has sparked concern among students and parents in China, who are unsure about what will happen next. Chinese state media highlighted the issue, with state broadcaster CCTV asking if the United States can still be seen as a reliable destination for higher education.

According to Harvard’s data, the university enrolled 6,703 international students in 2024. Of those, 1,203 were from China and 788 from India. Chinese and Indian students make up two of the largest international groups at the school.

Harvard has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Boston, calling the government’s action a violation of the US Constitution. The university said the move could remove more than 7,000 international students from its campuses.

In the lawsuit, Harvard stated: “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body.”

The case has also gained attention on Chinese social media, where many expressed concern over how this would affect future opportunities for Chinese students in the US. Users on platforms like Weibo said the move creates fear and uncertainty for families who have invested heavily in overseas education. Some posts questioned whether it was still worth applying to American universities, while others warned the decision could push more students to consider universities in countries like the UK, Canada, or Australia.

State-run media outlets amplified these concerns, suggesting the US may no longer be seen as a welcoming or stable destination for international students. “This ban sends the wrong message to young people who see education as a bridge between countries,” read an editorial published by the China Daily.

Parents of current students also voiced worries about what the future holds. “We planned everything around our daughter studying in the US,” one parent wrote in a widely shared post. “Now we don’t know what will happen next.”

The debate reflects a broader anxiety in China about growing restrictions and rising political tensions between Washington and Beijing, which have increasingly affected academic, business, and cultural exchanges.