China Condemns US Threat to Revoke Visas for Foreign Students

BEIJING, THURSDAY – The Chinese government condemned the desire of the United States government to revoke the visas of several foreign students from China. Beijing accused Washington of undermining soft diplomacy between nations. However, Washington argued that the policy is for national security reasons.

The condemnation was expressed by the Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, in Beijing, Thursday (29/5/2025). He stated that the visa revocation is merely a facade.

“China firmly rejects the decision as it damages people-to-people diplomacy,” Mao was quoted as saying by the Chinese government-affiliated Global Times newspaper. Mao said China had sent a note of objection to the US ambassador in Beijing.

The threat of visa revocation for Chinese students in the US is purely a political action based on discriminatory views. All of this contradicts the image that the US always presents to the world, which is upholding freedom and openness. The US is, in fact, damaging its own reputation.

In the United States, data from the Department of Education records 1.1 million international students. The majority of them come from China, followed by India. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), in the academic year 2023-2024, there are 277,398 Chinese students studying in the United States.

Several U.S. universities with a large number of students from China include Columbia University, New York University, Purdue University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Southern California (USC).

According to studies from various parties, there is no single factor that determines a university's popularity among students from certain countries. However, all studies agree that higher education institutions in the US are very popular among international students due to their high quality, relatively safe and inclusive school environments, as well as offering a rich academic experience and cross-cultural social interactions.

The issue of foreign students is dominated by China and India, as these two countries have the largest populations in the world. In fact, the daughter of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi Mingze, previously studied in the United States. She pursued higher education at Harvard University under a pseudonym.

On Wednesday (28/5/2025), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. will aggressively revoke student visas for Chinese students deemed to be at risk. The criteria include students with connections to the Communist Party of China and students enrolled in strategic fields of study. However, so far, there has been no clarification regarding the definition of strategic fields.

“We will tighten our screening procedures for prospective students from China and Hong Kong,” Rubio said.

Before the attack on Chinese students, the United States had already revoked the visas of foreign students whom they accused of being antisemitic. The criteria for antisemitism used by Washington is criticizing Israel's attacks on Palestine, which have resulted in the deaths of 53,000 residents in Gaza.

The government has halted funding for higher education institutions, including renowned universities. They are also required to submit a list of all foreign students' names. At the same time, the U.S. government is scrutinizing the social media accounts of the students.

"There may be foreign students in our country, but they must be those who love the U.S.," tweeted U.S. President Donald Trump on the Truth Social platform. Observers believe that Trump's definition of "loving the U.S." means that one should not be critical of him or his administration.

Harvard University has rejected the government's request to submit a list of their foreign students' names due to violations of various regulations, including personal data protection. As a penalty, the government revoked Harvard's permit to accept foreign students. Students who have already enrolled are instructed to transfer to other universities.

“Let this be a lesson for other campuses,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Washington has also instructed the U.S. embassy in all countries to cancel all interview quotas for student visa applicants. For those who have already received interview schedules, embassy staff have been asked to implement the strictest possible regulations.

Foreign students, particularly from China, are engulfed in panic. One of them is Candy, who studies at the University of Michigan. She refused to provide her full name due to fears of potential consequences. Candy is in her final year of studies.

"My fear is that after all this hard work, I will not graduate from college because I am deported and end up with only a high school diploma," he lamented to CNN.

In an interview with CNN, Wang Zichen, a researcher at the non-governmental organization China Center for Globalization (CCG), explained the reasons why the United States is popular among Chinese students and researchers. Many government officials and entrepreneurs seek knowledge in the "Uncle Sam" country.

"When they return to China, they do not only bring knowledge but also an understanding of the importance of creativity, inclusivity, and tolerance. This is a foundation for China's progress," said Wang.

Not only are Chinese students anxious, but students from other countries are as well. One of them is Alfred Williamson from England, who is studying in the United States. In an interview with the BBC, he stated that he plans to return home for a holiday and is now worried that he may not be able to return to the United States.

“I see us foreign students as pawns of the Trump administration against universities,” he said.

(AFP)