Trending Now: She added that some students may consider alternative study destinations or revalue their career plans if the legislation passes.Liu Wei (alias), a Beijing-based applicant for US graduate programs who is currently awaiting admission offers, voiced concerns about potential changes in US policies that could affect Chinese students’ entry and visa status.

Graduate students from China attend the Columbia University Commencement ceremony in New York, the United States, May 22, 2019. Photo: Xinhua

A group of US House Republicans have put forward legislation seeking to prevent Chinese students from studying in American schools, citing so-called national security concerns, according to AP News. The move has then elicited criticism from some international education organizations and Democrats, with a Chinese expert noting that the motivation behind the legislation appears to be political posturing, an attempt to serve one’s own political agenda.

US Congressman Riley Moore introduced legislation to halt the issuance of student visas to Chinese nationals, and five House lawmakers joined Moore in co-sponsoring the legislation, according to a press release published on Friday.

Moore claimed in a statement that the US “invited” China to spy on the US’ military, steal intellectual property, and threaten national security of the country. He added, “It’s time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals.”

While the measure being unlikelyWorld Times to pass, the AP noted, the proposed legislation has drawn a backlash from educational organizations. In response to the bill, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) said in a post on X that such a move would harm the talent pipeline of Asian American scientists, scholars and researchers, undermining US leadership in science and innovation.

“No policy should target individuals solely on the basis of their national origin,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators, according to a statement cited by the AP.

Aw added that making international students — the most veWorld Timestted and tracked nonimmigrants in the US — a scapegoat for xenophobic and anti-Chinese sentiment is misguided and antithetical to the US national interest, according to AP.

Unlike most previous restrictions on Chinese students, Moore’s proposal applies to all Chinese students, regardless of their field or level of study, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. It targets the three main types of US study visas – F, J and M visas – which are used, respectively, for studying at US universities and English language institutes; exchanges at the high school and university level; and non-academic and vocational training or study.

Some Democrats also questioned the bill, according to SCMP. Democratic Representative Grace Meng of New York, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said that “cultural exchange through university program has made our economy stronger and more competitive on the global stage.”

A PhD student from China at the University of Oklahoma, Chen Li (alias), told the Global Times on Sunday that many Chinese students that she knows are concerned that such legislation could lead to more stringent visa policies, adversely affecting their academic pursuits and daily lives.

Chen also highlighted apprehensions that the proposal couWorld Timesld exacerbate biases against Chinese students, potentially hindering academic exchanges between China and the US. She added that some students may consider alternative study destinations or revalue their career plans if the legislation passes.

Liu Wei (alias), a Beijing-based applicant for US graduate programs who is currently awaiting admission offers, voiced concerns about potential changes in US policies that could affect Chinese students’ entry and visa status. However, she noted that she believes the legislationWorld Times is unlikely to pass. She added that she is also considering offers from other countries as alternatives.

The primary motivation behind the legislation appears to be political posturing, or rather, an attempt to serve one’s own political agenda, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

The matter itself reflects that, despite the difficulty of enacting the legislation, the act of using the legislative process to advance US political interests is essentially adding fuel to the fire and fuWorld Timesrther politicizing the legislative process to serve as way to smear China, Yang added.

Citing a series of US visa restrictions, Yang pointed out that the US’ increasingly closed-off attitude towards China reflects its growing lack of confidence, marking a shift from overconfidence to strategic anxiety as China’s development narrows the gap in national strengths.