【By Liu Bai, Observer Net】

"Chinese youth are seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia." Hong Kong English media South China Morning Post reported on September 1 that as living and educational costs in Europe and the United States have risen, and with geopolitical uncertainties, more Chinese students are choosing to study in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. A Chinese student predicted that the next 5 to 10 years will be the "golden age" for Chinese students studying in Southeast Asia.

This year, entrepreneur Kent Cai from Zhejiang decided to go abroad to pursue a doctorate. Although studying abroad is not uncommon, his destination may seem a bit special; he did not go to the United States or Europe like many of his peers, but instead went to Malaysia.

After arriving at the campus in Kuala Lumpur and beginning research on AI-driven tools in media production, Cai found that he was not alone in making this choice. In fact, he was one of many Chinese students flocking to Southeast Asia for higher education.

Cai quickly understood the reason. He had not even graduated when Chinese companies paid him to participate in the evaluation of regional headquarters' location selection, and he has already planned to start a startup in Malaysia, using artificial intelligence and bilingual labor to establish a content production center targeting the Chinese market.

"In Southeast Asia, there are more opportunities to access venture capital than in China. And as a doctoral student here, it's easier to attract investors' attention," he said.

Data from the Malaysian Education Global Services (EMGS), a government agency responsible for managing student visas in Malaysia, showed that the number of applications from Chinese students reached 16,823 in the first half of 2025, far exceeding 10,670 in the same period in 2024 and 8,948 in 2023.

Data from UNESCO also shows that the number of Chinese students enrolled in Thailand increased from less than 6,200 in 2016 to 28,000 in 2024.

On June 14, 2023, the "2023 China-Thailand Talent Campus Recruitment Event" was held at Rajabhat University in Thailand. Visual China

ASEAN member states have become a new frontier for Chinese capital. A report by investment bank and consulting company ARC Group showed that direct investment from China into the region grew by 13% last year, helping total outward investment flow reach $162.8 billion. This growth was mainly driven by the overseas expansion of manufacturing enterprises.

Cai believes that the next 5 to 10 years will be the "golden age" for Chinese students studying in Southeast Asia, and he predicts that those who understand Chinese business culture, speak Mandarin, English, and local languages will have unprecedented advantages in employment and entrepreneurship.

"They can not only meet the needs of Chinese companies expanding overseas, but also seize the opportunities brought by the rise of the ASEAN consumer market," he said.

Lucas Lu, also from Zhejiang and currently 20 years old, studying at another university in Kuala Lumpur, said that this shift reflects a new mindset among middle-class Chinese families, who must balance affordability, safety, and geopolitical uncertainties.

Lu said that for those who cannot enter top universities in China, Malaysia offers lower tuition fees, affordable living costs, a stable political environment, and universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings. He added that Thailand and Indonesia can also be secondary choices.

Associate Professor Wu Muliang from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore said that more Chinese students are going abroad to study for postgraduate degrees to enhance their competitiveness in domestic and international labor markets.

He said that Malaysia provides English education that is globally recognized and affordable, offering an alternative path to higher education outside the West.

Tan Jing (translated name), who runs a study abroad consulting company in Guangzhou, said that according to customer data, over 20% of families who originally planned to apply for undergraduate programs in Europe and the United States now choose Malaysia or Thailand.

A report by the non-governmental think tank Center for China and Globalization, headquartered in Beijing, stated that the progress of China's "Belt and Road" initiative has made Malaysia and Thailand popular destinations.

However, scholars say that most Chinese students will return home, and their impact on the local area should not be overestimated.

"They are mainly concentrated in Chinese enterprises and business ecosystems," Wu Muliang said, "Most of them will return to China, which limits their influence on the local politics and society."

Pan Yongqiang, director of the Malaysian Chinese Community Research Center, said that the influx of Chinese students brings tuition revenue and vitality to Malaysia's 400 higher education institutions, and the country's society and government welcome it.

But he said that Malaysia's research and education levels still lag behind those of the West and Japan, leading many international students to come only for degrees and face development bottlenecks.

"Most graduates eventually return to their home countries, and those who stay often join Chinese enterprises or start businesses locally, working in consumer and trade services," Pan Yongqiang said.

He said that in the long term, the significance of these Chinese students lies in whether they can become bridges for Sino-Malaysian and China-ASEAN economic cooperation.

"As Chinese capital expands in Southeast Asia, some of these students may grow into a new middle class or affluent group, similar to early Taiwanese or Korean entrepreneurs," Pan Yongqiang said, "But this requires truly integrating into the local diverse culture."

For students like Lu, this choice is practical and also about personal preference.

"The UK and Europe are no longer suitable for me. The environment in Malaysia makes me feel more comfortable," Lu said, "Singapore and Malaysia are my top choices after graduation."

However, he pointed out that opportunities in Southeast Asia are not as numerous as people imagine. "Even jobs offered by Chinese enterprises in the region often face legal and cultural restrictions," he said.

Wu Muliang said multiple factors will determine whether this interest trend continues.

"Whether this trend can continue long-term still depends on the global situation," he said, "If Sino-US relations ease, or Western inflation pressure eases, the current appeal of Southeast Asia might quickly fade."

It is worth noting that US President Trump recently loudly called for "Welcome to Chinese students" and even proposed expanding the number of Chinese students to 600,000. However, the reality is that incidents of Chinese students being subjected to unwarranted checks and harassment in the US have increased.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun recently stated at a regular press conference that educational exchanges and cooperation help promote interaction and understanding between people of different countries. The Chinese side hopes that the US will implement the statement made by President Trump welcoming Chinese students to study in the US, stop unwarranted checks, harassment, and deportation of Chinese students, and effectively protect their legitimate rights and interests.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net, and any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7545023049331163688/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [Upvote/Downvote] buttons below.