Donald Trump (AP)
US president Donald Trump on Monday announced that 600,000 Chinese students will be permitted to study at US colleges amid ongoing trade tensions with China, noting that he is going to “get along with China.””I hear so many stories that we’re not going to allow their students,” Trump told reporters. “We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China.”At present, approximately 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled and studying at universities across the United States, as cited by Fox News. This notable shift in tone followed an advisory from the Chinese embassy in Washington, which cautioned students against choosing Houston as a destination, citing recent incidents where some had been “unjustifiably questioned and harassed,” reported the South China Morning Post.In one case, an individual was subjected to “restricted personal freedom for more than 80 hours” and was “ultimately deported without a reason,” the embassy said.US secretary of state Marco Rubio had earlier announced plans to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese nationals, especially those linked to the Communist Party or involved in sensitive research areas.International students, particularly from China, provide a crucial revenue stream for tuition-dependent colleges struggling with a falling trend in enrollment and budget pressures. In 2023, students from abroad, led by China and India, contributed over $50 billion to the US economy. Many universities depend heavily on the higher tuition fees paid by international students, with Chinese students often making up the largest share.Trump’s offer on student visas comes amid heightened tensions between the countries in the context of trade negotiations. Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday ahead of a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump maintained that Washington’s position in the trade dispute was stronger than Beijing’s. “They have some cards. We have incredible cards,” he told reporters.Trump also said he recently spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and was weighing a possible visit to Beijing. “At some point, probably during this year or shortly thereafter, we’ll go to China,” he noted, adding that Xi had extended an invitation.
