They were locked up in small black houses, unreasonably harassed, interrogated, revoked visas, repatriated, and some were even restricted in their personal freedom for more than 10 hours, threatened and intimidated. This is what happened to Chinese students when they entered the country from Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States.
Recently, U.S. border law enforcement officers unexpectedly interrogated and repatriated a number of Chinese students who held legal documents, valid visas, and had no criminal records. They only come to the U.S. on vacation, travel to a third country, or when new students are enrolled, but they don't expect to be detained and interrogated when trying to re-enter the U.S.
The questions raised during the interrogation related to the academic background of the international students, whether they received financial support from China, and whether the research project was related to the Chinese or military. This is simply an unwarranted suspicion and violation of international students! They were bombarded with a barrage of questions, and some were even taken to a "small dark cubicle" for three rounds of interrogation lasting 10 hours. Their electronic devices are scrutinized, their personal freedom is restricted, and even the right to contact their parents is denied.
At the end of the interrogation, they were forcibly repatriated and barred from entering the country without even giving reasons.
The United States makes it difficult for Chinese students: Shakespeare is honest and does not deceive me, high-tech needs to be fortified?
In fact, since June 2020, when the former Trump signed the so-called Order 10043, Chinese students studying in the United States have been frequently harassed and hindered by the United States, and their studies have been greatly affected. The ban targeted Chinese students and scholars in specific majors, resulting in their suspension or restriction of entry to the United States. In particular, students in sensitive majors such as electrical engineering and materials science are highly likely to have their visa applications rejected outright. In addition,The United States has also blacklisted 18 Chinese universities, making it impossible for students from these schools to study in the United States.
After Biden took over, he continued the "toxic legacy" left by the Trump era by imposing entry restrictions on Chinese students and researchers linked to China's MCF (civil-military) strategy. The intent behind this decision is clear, and it is nothing more than a narrow-minded mind under political manipulation.
Shockingly, Biden has denied visas to more than 500 Chinese students who have already received graduate admissions from top American universities. These rejected students plan to study at top universities such as Harvard and Yale in the United States, and some of them have won scholarships from American universities.
Looking at the attitude of U.S. lawmakers towards Chinese students, U.S. Congressman Tomcoe said unashamedly: "We should not let Chinese students study technology-related subjects in American universities, but let them study Shakespeare." This kind of arrogant and narrow-minded mentality can really be described as a typical "guarding the gold mountain and being afraid of starvation". With such short-sightedness, how can the United States continue to lead the world high-tech stage?
The United States is afraid of China's science and technology, and Chinese universities are shining in the world!
Why is the United States so afraid of us today? That's because China's technological rise has really shaken the world. According to in-depth research by Harvard University, China has surpassed the United States in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and quantum computing.
In the past, U.S. universities were regarded as global leaders in higher education due to their significant advantages in teaching resources and teaching quality. However, over time, the rise of Chinese universities in terms of academic standards has gradually changed this landscape.
Recently, the National Higher Education Evaluation Agency Ranking released the 2023 World-Class Subject Rankings. A total of 333 Chinese universities are ranked in the ranking, the highest number in the world. What is even more remarkable is that China has won the first place in the world in 17 professional fields, which are almost monopolized by Chinese universities.
The dilemma of studying in the United States: Chinese students are "deterred by the United States", and the competition for jobs is intensifying
In recent years, the number of Chinese students studying in the United States has shown a precipitous downward trend. According to the Institute of International Education, the number of Chinese students enrolled at U.S. universities has fallen to 28 from 370,000 four years ago90 thousand. If the U.S. continues to enforce discriminatory, selective, and politically motivated measures against Chinese students, that number is likely to decline further.
Dilemma 1 for studying in the United States: Complex situations make potential international students hesitate
The proliferation of guns, racial discrimination, and campus security have had a negative impact on international students, especially Asian students, and reduced their willingness to study in the United States.
In recent years, American society has become increasingly grotesque, irritable, and repulsive to outsiders. Asian students are often targeted for discrimination in the U.S., and some children even make insulting gestures (e.g., eyelid pulling, gestures of disdain) toward Chinese students. Chinese students face more pressure and challenges than other ethnic groups. This is not only reflected in all aspects of daily life, but more importantly in job search and academic opportunities, where Asian students are in many cases treated unfairly.
In addition, campus safety is also an important factor affecting the choice of international students. The frequent occurrence of ** incidents on campuses in the United States makes international students have to consider this issue when choosing a school. At the same time, problems such as drug abuse and sexual harassment on campus also make international students feel uneasy. These problems make Asian students have to weigh the pros and cons when considering studying in the United States.
The dilemma of studying in the United States is the uncertainty of the employment environment
First, international students are less and less likely to find a job in the United States. In FY2024, the effective H1B winning rate is only 142%, which means that many international students will only be able to return to their home country within a limited period of time if they fail to get a visa after graduation. In addition, the China Initiative, launched by the United States in 2018, has forced a large number of Chinese scientists to choose to return to China for development, which further reduces the likelihood of international students obtaining job opportunities in the United States.
Second, the dilemma of skilled immigrants: the long wait for a green card application. In the past, skilled immigrants were able to obtain permanent residency in the United States in a relatively short period of time by applying for a green card. However, the situation has changed dramatically, and it is becoming more and more difficult to apply for a green card. Many skilled immigrants have to wait years to get a green card, and some even have to wait more than a decade.
Third, the recognition of the academic qualifications of returnees who return to China for employment is also getting lower and lower, and domestic international students are beginning to roll up when looking for jobs.
According to statistics, 80% of Chinese students studying abroad choose to return to China. Especially in recent years, the number of returned international students has increased significantly, making the competition for jobs among returnees more and more fierce. At the same time, the number of university graduates in the country is huge, reaching 11.58 million in 2023, and this number is still rising. The number of returnees from overseas and the growth in the number of domestic college graduates have combined to exacerbate the congestion of the job market. In the face of scarce employment opportunities, many returning international students have to adjust their mentality, lower their expectations for salaries, or even give up the fierce competition in first-tier cities and turn their attention to new first-, second-, and even third-tier cities. Who wants to pay a high cost of studying abroad, only to find themselves in a fierce competition for jobs after returning home?
The attitude of Chinese society towards studying abroad is changing, and people are more rational about the value and significance of studying abroad. This change reflects the maturity and self-confidence of Chinese society, and also indicates a new trend in the future development of education.
Finally, I would like to say that Sino-US relations are a contest between the best countries, and if either side involves innocent students, it is on the unjust side. Persuade the United States not to talk about being a place of openness, tolerance and academic freedom, but politicize and make academic research a political bargaining chip. This can only make more people aware of the selfishness, xenophobia, and hegemonism of the United States. We call on the United States** to re-examine its policies toward Chinese students. Stop making things difficult and restricting them for no reason, and give them fair treatment!