The United States has announced plans to revoke visas of Chinese students currently studying in the country. The decision, confirmed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of a wider strategy to enhance national security.
According to Rubio, the US State Department, under President Trump’s administration, will “aggressively” revoke the visas of students with links to the Chinese Communist Party or those enrolled in sensitive academic fields. The US will also revise the criteria for future visa applications from China and Hong Kong.
Read also: Young Nigerians hit as Trump orders US embassies worldwide to halt student visa application
Rubio said, “We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”
The US currently hosts a large population of Chinese students. In the 2023-24 academic year, there were an estimated 277,398 Chinese students in the US. However, it remains unclear how many will be affected by this new directive.
In addition to revoking visas, the US State Department has announced a halt to the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students. The move affects students worldwide and is linked to a broader plan to expand screening processes. This includes evaluating applicants’ social media activity.
Read also: US government stops Harvard from enrolling foreign students
Last month, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services revealed plans to examine the social media content of foreigners, particularly for signs of anti-Semitism. This development is part of a growing effort by US authorities to apply tighter controls over immigration and student visas.
China has responded with strong criticism. Speaking to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the Chinese government, Mao Ning, described the decision as unreasonable. Ning said the move damages the rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupts cultural exchange.
Ning said, “This political and discriminatory practice of the US has exposed the lies of the so-called freedom and openness that the US has always advertised, and further damaged the US’s own international image, national image and national credibility.”
Read also: U.S proposes 5% levy on diaspora remittances; to affect Nigerians
The visa policy change signals an escalation in tensions between the US and China. While US authorities cite national security concerns, China views the measures as politically motivated and harmful to educational and diplomatic relations.
The implications for Chinese students already in the US and those planning to study there in the future remain uncertain. The long-term effect of these decisions on US-China relations and international education is still unfolding.
