‘Unreasonable’: China blasts Trump’s ‘lie’ after U.S. revokes student visas, accuses Washington of discrimination

Beijing has strongly protested against the United States after the Trump administration canceled the visas of Chinese students studying at American universities. The Chinese government called the move “unreasonable” and unfair, accusing the U.S. of being hypocritical in its claims of supporting freedom and openness.

According to The Guardian, the decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focuses on “aggressively revok[ing] visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally opposed the U.S. decision, saying it “seriously damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupted the normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.” The ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that the U.S. move goes against its claims of supporting freedom and openness, damaging its reputation and credibility worldwide. Per Newsweek, Beijing urged Washington to protect the legal rights of international students, including those from China.

China calling US out on its discrimination of Chinese students

The exact number of students affected by the visa cancellations is still unknown, but Rubio’s use of the word “aggressively” suggests that many students will be impacted quickly. The State Department also paused all student visa appointments worldwide, supposedly to review screening procedures, which affects students from many countries. This follows an earlier attempt by the Trump administration to block all international students from Harvard University, a decision that was temporarily stopped by a court order. These actions suggest a major change in U.S. policy toward Chinese students.

This decision comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are already tense. While there has been recent progress in trade talks, the visa issue has worsened tensions. The U.S. action is part of the broader competition between major powers, with the White House expressing worries that some Chinese students might be using the visa system to help China’s interests.

This concern is heightened by the large number of Chinese students in the U.S. education system. In the 2023 to 2024 school year, more than 270,000 Chinese students made up about a quarter of all international students in the U.S., contributing significant revenue to American universities.

The Trump administration’s actions also single out Chinese students in certain fields of study, raising further concerns about the effect on academic cooperation and research. Past U.S. governments have also closely examined Chinese students, especially those in sensitive fields or with military ties.

China has been quick to help those hurt by the Trump administration, and even Harvard is fighting back with a lawsuit. The consequences go beyond the immediate impact on individual students. American universities, which depend heavily on tuition fees from international students, including many from China, could face financial losses. The move might also discourage future Chinese students from studying in the U.S., reducing American campuses’ diversity and intellectual energy.