The United States will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, especially those who are linked with the Chinese Communist Party or are engaged in sensitive academic disciplines, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday. This measure is a part of a broader immigration and national security planning under US President Donald Trump’s administration, aimed at hardening visa rules and restraining foreign influence in major sectors.
Rubio also mentioned that the US State Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, will step up efforts to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students.” Moreover, the visa criteria for applicants from China and Hong Kong will undergo revisions to escalate scrutiny and protect national interests.
The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025
“The US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students,” Rubio mentioned in an official statement. The White House has also shared its stance on its social media account, stating, “The US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”
China responds to the US decision
China has responded to the US announcement, the Foreign Ministry stated that it has lodged an official protest against the decision. “We firmly oppose the US’s politicization of student exchanges,” said Mao Ning during a press briefing. She blamed the US for using ideology and national security as a “pretext” to target Chinese nationals and weaken their legitimate rights and interests. Mao has appealed to the US to adopt a “more constructive attitude” to ensure balance in the US-China relations.
Chinese students’ enrollment drops in US
Chinese students have long formed the largest group of international students in the US, but their numbers have sharply reduced from a peak of 370,000 in 2019 to 277,000 in 2024. This decline is marked by worsening diplomatic relations between the two countries, ongoing trade conflict, and enhanced scrutiny of Chinese students, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) categories.
Further exacerbating the situation, the US State Department has recently stalled new visa appointments for all foreign students and the exchange visitor category. This comes amid an increasing scrutiny on social media and vetting measures for international applicants.
China, which is already at the focus of Trump’s trade and geopolitical clash, has yet not replied on the issue. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has also refused to comment on the development.
