The Trump administration has ordered US embassies and consulates worldwide to halt all new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.
China has called on the United States to avoid “disrupting” education and academic exchanges after the Trump administration froze all student visa interviews and appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide.
“We urge the US to effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all international students, including Chinese students overseas,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, as per Newsweek. She added that China “upholds that normal education cooperation and academic exchanges should not be disrupted.”
The appeal comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students with alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive fields.
The US will also increase scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong, Rubio said.
By halting the student visa category, which issued over 4 lakh visas in fiscal year 2024, the administration aims to slow international student admissions and reduce immigration. This pause could also slash a key revenue stream for many US universities that rely on foreign students’ tuition.
Donald Trump has ramped up efforts to restrict foreign student admissions, citing national security concerns. On Wednesday, he proposed a cap on international enrollment at Harvard University, limiting it to 15 per cent of the student body.
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