U.S. Bill to Ban Visas for Chinese Students Sparks Outrage and Condemnation

A Bill Targeting Chinese Students Sparks Outrage

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would ban visas for all Chinese students has been met with widespread criticism from both within the U.S. and China. The bill, introduced by Representative Riley Moore, would bar Chinese nationals from receiving visas that allow foreigners to travel to the U.S. to study or participate in exchange visitor programs.

The proposed legislation has been condemned by organizations and scholars who argue that it is discriminatory and harmful to U.S. interests. Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators, stated that "no policy should target individuals solely on the basis of their national origin." She further emphasized that singling out international students, who are among the most vetted and tracked nonimmigrants in the U.S., is misguided and detrimental to the nation's interests.

A Chinese graduate student at the University of Chicago, who spoke under the pseudonym Benjamin, expressed concerns that the bill aims to curb "espionage activities" but would ultimately prohibit all Chinese students from studying in the U.S. He described the proposal as "absurd and laughable," arguing that it would harm innocent individuals and negatively impact U.S.-China relations.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, expressed strong concern and opposition to the proposed ban, highlighting the importance of education exchange and cooperation for stable China-U.S. relations.

John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, condemned the bill, stating that it paints all Chinese students as a threat and fuels racial profiling. He emphasized that history has shown that exclusionary policies based on stereotypes rarely address actual national security concerns and instead contribute to prejudice and unfair targeting of Asian communities.