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US student visa declines for Chinese, Indian nationals spur China backlash
A Washington-based think tank cited US State Department data showing F-1 visas for Indian nationals fell 60.0% and for Chinese nationals dropped 46.0% versus prior-year averages.
A dramatic decline in US student visas issued to Chinese and Indian nationals has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over education and security, drawing criticism from Chinese state-linked media. South China Morning Post Economy reports that the dispute centers on an analysis from the Washington-based Centre for Immigration Studies, which used US State Department data to argue the visa drop benefits the United States.
According to the think tank, F-1 visas issued to Indian nationals fell 60.0% and those issued to Chinese nationals declined 46.0% compared with average levels from previous years. The report argued that, if sustained, fewer Chinese students in the US could reduce risks related to technology transfer and espionage.
China’s Global Times responded by saying the report recycled claims that Chinese students pose security threats and accused the organization of politicizing normal academic exchanges. The commentary also challenged the idea that the drop reflected newly uncovered “spies,” saying instead it was linked to US political measures such as suspending interviews, extensive social media screening, layered background checks, and public statements calling for enhanced scrutiny for students from certain countries.