In what appears to be a U-turn on US policy, President Donald Trump has signalled that Chinese students are still welcome in the country.
Just weeks after US secretary of state Marco Rubio announced that the State Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or in sensitive fields, Trump said he has agreed with China to allow students to continue “using our colleges and universities.”
“Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me. Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, upfront, by China,” read the post by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!). We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent! Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
While it remains unclear whether Rubio’s directive will stay in effect, Trump’s current stance on Chinese students in the US follows “productive talks” between the US and China, focused on easing export restrictions and supplying rare earth metals.
The President’s statement is likely to come as a major relief for China, which has criticised the US government over its plans to restrict Chinese student visas, as well as its broader efforts to curb the country’s access to semiconductors and other technologies related to artificial intelligence.
“This political and discriminatory practice of the US has exposed the lie of so-called freedom and openness that the US has always advocated, and will only further damage the US’s own international image and national credibility,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning was quoted as saying by Xinhuanet, the country’s official state news agency.
Although Chinese students represent one of the largest international student groups in the US, around 277,000, second only to India, the growing tussle between the US and China, along with ongoing security concerns, has heavily influenced policies surrounding Chinese students and researchers at American universities.
A Chinese scientist scheduled to spend a year at the University of Michigan for a research project was recently arrested at Detroit airport over allegations of attempting to smuggle biological material, specifically certain types of worms, that required a government permit.
The scientist’s arrest last week came just days after federal authorities filed charges against another Chinese scientist and his girlfriend for allegedly hiding a toxic fungus in his backpack last year.
Though several universities, especially in California, have affirmed that Chinese students are indispensable to them and make significant contributions to research, and public service, Beijing has already issued an advisory warning its students to exercise caution when considering studying in certain US states.
In March this year, Ohio’s higher education reform bill prohibited public colleges from accepting Chinese donations and mandated increased security vetting for new partnerships with Chinese institutions, mirroring recent measures in Texas and Florida, where public colleges are also barred from collaborating with or accepting grants from Chinese entities.
The perceived hostility in the US has already driven many Chinese students to alternate destinations, including the UK and Australia – a trend that began to emerge as early as last year.
“We don’t need to play the fear card, they’re walking our way on their own accord. Quietly. Deliberately. Visa uncertainty, anti-China rhetoric, safety concern, it’s all adding up.
“And while we can’t absorb every single student suddenly ejected from the Ivy League dream, we can offer something they increasingly want: stability, safety, and an education that still commands global respect,” Susan Fang, co-founder and CEO of OxBridge Holdings, who helps international students find education opportunities in the UK, previously told The PIE News.
Despite a more measured tone surrounding international students, challenges remain as the US resumes study visa interviews at its embassies and consulates worldwide, but with enhanced screening measures that include social media activities and broader online presence checks.
Join us for an insightful webinar that aims to gather expert insights from China, India, and the US to understand how British universities can address urgent student needs through late-cycle admissions and January intakes, particularly in light of recent changes in the US higher education landscape.