Trump saying 600k Chinese students could come to the US draws MAGA backlash
9 days ago
- #USChinaRelations
- #Trump
- #ChineseStudents
- President Donald Trump announced he would allow 600,000 Chinese students into American universities, sparking backlash from his MAGA base.
- The Trump administration had previously tightened student visa vetting, blocked foreign enrollment at Harvard, and expanded grounds for terminating international students' U.S. study rights.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier stated the State Department would revoke visas for students linked to the Chinese Communist Party and increase vetting of new applicants.
- Trump's announcement contradicts his administration's restrictive visa policies and adds confusion to U.S.-China relations amid trade and tech competition tensions.
- Trump's supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former adviser Steve Bannon, opposed the idea of welcoming more Chinese students.
- The number of Chinese students in the U.S. has been declining, peaking at 372,532 in 2019-2020 and dropping to 277,398 in 2023.
- U.S. universities, like the University of Michigan, have ended partnerships with Chinese universities due to concerns over aiding China's tech and military advancement.
- Experts predict further declines in Chinese student numbers due to strained U.S.-China relations and China's shrinking population.
- Trump defended the move, stating Chinese students help keep U.S. colleges financially afloat, contributing $43.8 billion to the economy in 2023-2024.
- China criticized U.S. visa restrictions, alleging unfair treatment and harassment of Chinese students, including detentions and visa revocations.