The New York Times: Trump's crackdown on Harvard disillusions Chinese people again. If the Trump administration successfully blocks Harvard University from admitting international students, the group most affected will be Chinese students, who currently make up the largest international student body at the university. Its impact will go far beyond just a small number of individuals capable of entering this prestigious institution. It may cut off one of the few remaining reasons why the Chinese public still admires America, reshaping the overall relationship between the two countries. Despite escalating geopolitical tensions and China's growing ambitions as a major power, the flow of students from China to the U.S. has long been one of the most stable pillars maintaining relations between the two countries. Not long ago, China was still the largest source of international students for the U.S., sending tens of thousands of students to the country each year. Even as other symbols of America—such as Hollywood or iPhones—lose their appeal in the hearts of many Chinese people, American universities remain objects of admiration and even worship. Elite universities like Harvard have played an especially important role in this admiration. In recent years, due to increasingly strained Sino-American relations, student exchange programs have also been affected, with many worried about anti-Chinese discrimination, visa difficulties, or crime issues. But universities like Harvard are exceptions: they continue to exert strong appeal over Chinese students, who are willing to overlook other concerns for the opportunity to receive world-class education. Now, even this beacon is in jeopardy. "Everyone has the ideal to change the world when they come here," said a current Chinese graduate student at Harvard. Out of concern for visa security, she requested anonymity. "Then, while trying to understand the world, the world shuts me out." She stated that she now hopes to return to China after graduation. On Friday, news related to Harvard became a hot topic, highlighting the complex reactions of Chinese netizens on social media, which underscored how tense the relationship between the two superpowers, the U.S. and China, has become. There were worries, anger, resignation, and even joy among some. Some netizens expressed that Trump is accelerating China's rise. They celebrated this, believing that American universities would lose income and talent, with some of that talent potentially moving to China. At least one university in Hong Kong has already indicated its willingness to unconditionally admit any student transferring from Harvard. When questioned about this decision on Friday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated that it would only "damage America's image and international reputation." Long before this measure was taken against Harvard, Chinese students in the U.S. had many reasons to worry. Out of national security considerations, U.S. federal and state lawmakers proposed restricting Chinese citizens from studying in the U.S. Some students reported being denied entry despite holding valid visas, or having their visas suddenly revoked. Last month, the Chinese Ministry of Education officially warned Chinese students to consider the risks of studying in the U.S., marking the first such warning issued to outbound students since 2021. The Trump administration's cuts to research funding also put immense pressure on many Chinese scholars, some of whom worry they may not be able to continue receiving sufficient funds for their research. The Harvard student planning to return home after graduation mentioned that a research position she had secured was rescinded due to a freeze on federal funds. In China's booming study abroad consulting industry, many advisors encourage clients to apply to universities outside the U.S. as alternatives. On Friday, during a live broadcast watched by hundreds, an advisor warned that other universities might soon face similar restrictions. But for some, Harvard's special status—its substantial resources and prestige—also gives them hope that this university—and broader American society—can weather this turmoil. Harvard master's degree candidate Yu (surname withheld due to fear of retaliation) said she was inspired by the resistance shown by Harvard faculty and students against government attacks. Beyond the school administration, her classmates—whether Chinese or from other countries—have united, sharing international travel plans to help anyone in trouble and collaboratively interpreting administrative orders. She said she had anticipated that life as an international student would become more difficult under Trump's administration, but her view of America hadn't fundamentally changed. "I focus more on the values this country holds and how people strive to defend these values," she said. "It will be hard, but there will be resistance. We still hold hope."

U.S. Government Bans Harvard From Admitting International Students

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