【By Observer Net, Wang Yi】Amid the U.S. immigration officials' discriminatory actions against Chinese students, President Trump has made consecutive statements in recent days that Chinese students are "very important" to the United States, and without them, the American university system would "go to hell very quickly."

According to reports from Associated Press and Fox News website, Trump said on August 25 at the White House to reporters: "I have heard many stories saying we will not allow them (China) students to enter. We will allow their students to enter. This is very important, 600,000 students. This is very important, we will get along well with China."

This statement was quickly questioned and criticized by right-wing conservatives within the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) camp on the same day. Therefore, Trump explained it during a cabinet meeting at the White House on the 26th. He said that Chinese students cannot come to the United States is "very insulting," "I like their students coming here, I like students from other countries coming here."

"Do you know what happens if they don't do this? Our university system will collapse very quickly. And it's not the top universities, but those at the bottom struggling. You kick out 300,000 or 600,000 students from the system," Trump said. He said the United States is "honored" to educate Chinese students, but at the same time emphasized that the United States will "cautiously" review to determine who can come to the United States for study.

On August 26 local time, Trump presided over a cabinet meeting. Video screenshot

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post pointed out on the 27th that while the United States continues to advance trade negotiations with China, Trump has changed his previous government's high-profile approach of "actively revoking" Chinese student visas, saying that accepting Chinese students is "very important." This statement caused some dissatisfaction within MAGA and exposed cracks in the faction. Trump, previously seen as an anti-China hardliner, now has fluctuating China policies, making more supporters feel that he is making "dangerous concessions" to China.

"Why should 600,000 Chinese students come to replace the opportunities of American students?" Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican congresswoman from Georgia, expressed strong opposition to Trump's plan for 600,000 Chinese students, claiming that "this should never be allowed to happen."

American far-right internet personality Laura Loomer, who previously questioned several members of the National Security Council for being "not loyal enough," once again brought up her baseless conspiracy theories, stating that no one wants to add another 600,000 Chinese students to the United States, "now they want to replace us? This can't happen."

Conservative media in the United States also questioned Trump's plan. Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked Commerce Secretary Rutenberg in her show how allowing 600,000 Chinese students to study in the United States could be considered "America First."

Rutenberg defended Trump by using "rational economic judgment," saying that Trump meant that without Chinese students, the "worst 15% of universities in the United States would collapse."

The Associated Press pointed out that after the Trump administration previously announced the revocation of Chinese student visas and increased restrictions on Chinese students, this statement reflects a shift in its attitude toward China.

During his first term, Trump launched the notorious "China Initiative," rejecting and deporting many Chinese students and scholars, leading to a series of lawsuits against academic professionals.

After returning to the White House this year, Trump once again targeted Chinese students. Secretary of State Rubio announced in May that they would "actively revoke" Chinese student visas, and also amend visa application standards, increasing scrutiny of all future visa applications from mainland China and Hong Kong.

However, in June, after the United States and China reached a framework agreement on trade issues, the U.S. temporarily suspended some tariffs and slightly relaxed its attitude toward Chinese students. Trump said in June that he had "always strongly supported" Chinese students studying in the United States.

Data shows that the number of Chinese students studying in the United States reached a peak of 373,000 in the 2019-2020 academic year, and then began to decline. According to data from the U.S. Department of State, over 277,000 Chinese students were enrolled in U.S. schools in the 2023-2024 academic year, a decrease of 4% compared to the previous year. At the same time, India became the largest source country of international students in the United States, with 332,000 students.

An analysis by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA) found that international students studying in the United States contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023-2024 academic year, providing 378,000 jobs. NBC cited data showing that in 2023 alone, Chinese students contributed over $1.4 billion to the U.S. economy.

The report stated that Republicans have long been trying to prevent Chinese students from entering the United States. In March this year, several Republican lawmakers proposed a bill aimed at restricting Chinese visas, requiring the suspension of visas for Chinese citizens to study or participate in exchange programs in the United States. The bill quickly triggered strong opposition from the Chinese student community, academia, and civil rights organizations, calling it a "new version of the Chinese Exclusion Act."

"I think this is naked racism and xenophobia," an anonymous Chinese student who recently graduated from a university in Washington told NBC, "We are not spies, we just want to get a better education."

On the same day that Trump said "welcoming" Chinese students, the Chinese Embassy in the United States issued a notice on social media about the recent selective and discriminatory enforcement by U.S. customs and border protection officers against Chinese students, reminding Chinese students to carefully choose to enter through the Houston route.

The statement said that recently, several Chinese students entering from the George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston were subjected to arbitrary inspections and harassment by U.S. customs and border protection officers, with their electronic devices being checked, and some even being restricted from personal freedom for over 80 hours, ultimately being unjustly deported back to China, seriously infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students. The Chinese Embassy in the United States has already raised serious representations with the U.S. side, urging the U.S. to correct the mistake and stop the selective and discriminatory law enforcement against Chinese students.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded at a regular press conference on the 22nd, stating that the U.S. actions seriously infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, seriously hindered normal personnel exchanges between the two countries, and seriously disrupted the atmosphere of Sino-U.S. cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China will continue to take effective measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens traveling to the United States.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543086498145370666/

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