China has strongly condemned the United States’ latest move to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals, calling the decision “political, discriminatory, and deeply damaging to international cooperation in education.”
The backlash follows a declaration by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced on Wednesday that Washington would begin aggressively cancelling existing student visas for Chinese nationals while tightening the vetting process for all future applications from both China and Hong Kong.
Rubio’s announcement marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s hardline stance on China, and has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, particularly for its potential to upend academic exchange and disrupt the lives of thousands of students.
“Such political and discriminatory practice of the U.S. side has exposed the lie of the so-called freedom and openness that the U.S. has always boasted of, and will only further damage the U.S.’s own international image and national credibility,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning during a press briefing.
She further accused the U.S. of weaponizing ideology and national security concerns as a pretext to undermine legitimate academic mobility, warning that the move would further damage the United States’ global image and diplomatic credibility.
“We firmly oppose this action and have made serious diplomatic representations to the U.S. side,” Mao added.
Beijing urged Washington to respect and protect the rights of international students, emphasizing that Chinese students contribute significantly to academic institutions and the broader cultural and economic fabric of American society.
Rubio’s statement follows mounting tensions between the two countries and comes just one day after China criticized his decision to suspend all visa appointments globally—a move interpreted by analysts as part of a broader strategy to restrict international academic engagement.
The Trump administration has faced backlash from U.S. universities as well, with elite institutions such as Harvard resisting government pressure tied to student activism and academic freedom.
Observers note that the current trajectory could have long-lasting repercussions on international education, bilateral relations, and the global perception of American openness.
