China has issued a forceful rebuke of recent U.S. visa cancellations affecting Chinese students, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning calling the move "politically motivated and discriminatory" during a Thursday press briefing.
The decision, which targets an unspecified number of Chinese nationals studying in the United States, has drawn sharp criticism for its alleged use of national security concerns as justification. Mao emphasized that such actions "seriously harm legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students" while undermining educational and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
"This practice exposes the gap between America's professed values of openness and its actual policies," Mao stated, adding that Beijing had lodged formal diplomatic protests. The spokesperson framed the visa revocations as part of broader patterns affecting cross-border academic collaboration, a cornerstone of U.S.-China relations for decades.
While no specific numbers were disclosed, the development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and could impact over 300,000 Chinese students currently studying in the United States. Observers note the move may influence academic institutions and technology sectors that rely on international talent exchange.
