U.S. visa crackdown sparks China's outrage and protest
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning voiced firm opposition to what she described as an unsubstantiated move by U.S. authorities, following U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement about the revocation of visas for Chinese students. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China lodged a formal protest in Washington.
During a press briefing, Mao stressed that the U.S. administration is using ideology and national security concerns as justification for arbitrarily revoking visas. She stated that such measures significantly undermine the rights and interests of Chinese students and interfere with the normal flow of exchanges between the two nations' populations.
Mao pointed out that this politically motivated and discriminatory move by the United States exposes the falsehood behind its frequently proclaimed values of freedom and openness. She warned that such actions would further harm the country's global image, reputation, and credibility.
On Wednesday, Rubio announced that the United States will "aggressively" revoke visas for Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Communist Party of China or studying in "sensitive fields."
The U.S. Secretary of State also announced that the scrutiny of future visa applications from individuals in China would be strengthened due to suspicions of connections with intelligence services.
During the 2023/2024 academic year, over 277,000 Chinese students were studying in the U.S. They represent the second-largest group of international students at American universities, following Indian nationals.
