China on Thursday criticised the United States’ recent move to revoke the visas of certain Chinese students, calling it “unreasonable” and ideologically motivated. Beijing confirmed that it has lodged formal protests with Washington after US secretary of state Marco Rubio announced stricter visa policies targeting students with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive fields.“The US has unreasonably cancelled Chinese students’ visas under the pretext of ideology and national rights,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. “China firmly opposes this and has lodged representations with the US.”Rubio, who was recently appointed Secretary of State, said in a post on X that the US would “aggressively” revoke visas as part of a broader national security effort. China is the second-largest source of international students in the US, with over 270,000 Chinese nationals enrolled in American institutions during the 2023–2024 academic year — nearly a quarter of all international students.The new visa revocation policy comes amid a series of developments that have unsettled international students. Earlier this week, the US suspended the scheduling of new visa interviews as it prepares to enforce stricter screening protocols, including enhanced surveillance of applicants’ social media activity.These measures have been criticised as part of a wider campaign under President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the presence of foreign students under the guise of national security. The latest visa crackdown follows the administration’s controversial attempt to block Harvard University from admitting any new international students — a move temporarily halted by a federal judge.Defending the administration’s stance, Trump said on Wednesday, “Harvard should limit international student enrollment to around 15%. I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country.”International students, particularly those from China, are increasingly feeling targeted. “There’s a growing fear among us,” said a Chinese graduate student on condition of anonymity. “We came here to learn and contribute. Now we’re treated as threats.”Several universities, advocacy groups, and immigration experts have warned that such policies could erode the United States’ long-standing reputation as a global education hub and deter top international talent from enrolling in US institutions.
